Is Stephen Curry in same tier as Kobe, Shaq and Duncan?

Stephen Curry is universally lauded as one of the best shooter in basketball historical past.

And after including his fourth profession Larry O’Brien trophy to his hefty {hardware} assortment, Curry’s case as a top-10 participant of all time gained a brand new stage of steam. Former Lakers level guard Derek Fisher already has the sharpshooting level guard in that firm.

“Steph Curry has separated himself as one of many few guys in the historical past of our sport that if you look again, wherever he was or at any time when he performed, his groups have been actually profitable,” Fisher mentioned in an unique interview with Sports Illustrated’s “Inside the Warriors.” “I put him in that class with Tim Duncan, Kobe [Bryant] and Shaq [O’Neal]. Wherever he’s, success goes to comply with.”

Listing Curry alongside three of the 5 best gamers to lace them up in the twenty first century is first-class reward, particularly coming from Fisher, who gained 5 championships alongside Bryant (three with O’Neal) and performed in opposition to Duncan quite a few occasions, together with in a bevy of playoff contests.

Fisher’s expertise provides him a credibility that few possess to talk on such a contentious matter, however regardless of his résumé, his feedback drew the ire of “Undisputed” cohost “Skip Bayless”, who outright dismissed the Curry declare. 

“How can we embody a person who got here up so small — a lot smaller than he even is at 6-3 — down the stretch of the 2016 Finals — that he led a contingent all the way in which throughout the nation to recruit Kevin Durant?” Bayless requested. “Would Duncan, Kobe or Shaq ever beg somebody to return save them? No, they’d not.”

Shannon Sharpe, although, had no drawback with Fisher’s assertion.

“We’ve by no means had a man this measurement be this transformational in the historical past of the NBA,” he asserted. “We’ve all the time gravitated in the direction of the massive man: Kareem, Wilt, Russell. Everybody is doing what Steph Curry does. The pictures that used to get you benched, that is an ideal shot for Steph. And now all people shoots it. We’re speaking a couple of man [in Fisher] who’s performed with Shaq and Kobe, and in opposition to Duncan. 

“I do not know why we need to dismiss a man that is gained two MVPs, one unanimous. Six gamers in NBA historical past have two MVPs, 4 titles and a Finals MVP: Kareem Adbul Jabbar, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, Steph Curry. Let that sink in. Steph Curry completely deserves to be talked about if you speak concerning the greats. Fish is totally proper.”

Does Steph Curry belong in the same class as Kobe, Shaq and Duncan?

Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe debate whether or not Steph Curry belongs in the same sentence as the three NBA legends or not.

Curry typically hasn’t been widespread amongst basketball traditionalists, however biases apart, does he should be talked about with the above trifecta? Take a have a look at the numbers and resolve for your self. (All 4 gamers have been named to the NBA’s seventy fifth Anniversary Team).

Shaquille O’Neal

Championships: Four (Three-time Finals MVP, 15 of 19 seasons with 50+ wins — 78.9%)

MVPs: One (Eight top-five finishes)

Points: Shaq: 28,596 (tenth all-time). Playoffs: 5,250 (fifth all-time)

Scoring titles: Two

All-NBA alternatives: 14 (15-time All-Star)

Kobe Bryant

Championships: Five (Two-time Finals MVP, 11 of 20 seasons with 50+ wins — 55%)

MVPs: One (11 top-five finishes)

Points: 33,643 (fourth all-time). Playoffs: 5,640 (fourth all-time)

Scoring titles: Two

All-NBA alternatives: 15 (18-time All-Star)

Tim Duncan

Championships: Five (Three-time Finals MVP, 18 of 19 seasons with 50+ wins – 94.7%).

MVPs: Two (Nine top-five finishes)

Points: 26,496 (18th all-time). Playoffs: 5,172 (sixth all-time)

Scoring titles: None

All-NBA alternatives: 15 (15-time All-Star)

Stephen Curry

Championships: Four (1x Finals MVP; seven of 13 seasons with 50+ wins – 53.8%. Curry was additionally a part of the best common season workforce ever, the 2015-16 Warriors, who went 73-9).

MVPs: Two (Four top-five finishes)

Points: 20,064 (51st all-time, ninth amongst energetic gamers). Playoffs: 3,570 (twenty first all-time)

Scoring titles: Two

All-NBA alternatives: Eight (Eight-time All-Star)