Stephen Curry is Revolutionizing Basketball. Is he the Best?

It is early in the year, and everyone is talking about Curry as the best player in the world. I believe that assumption is a little premature and not quite accurate, BUT Curry is without a doubt revolutionizing the game of basketball, here’s why.

I may be a little biased, but we all love an athletic freak of nature that can do things most of us “normal sized” people cannot. That style of play only lasts but so long, last time I checked, Father Time is undefeated. There is one skill that can keep the M’s rolling in on an annual basis. The ability to shoot from the perimeter. The game is so much easier when you can shoot the ball; you put so much pressure on the defense, which gives space for the other players on the floor. We can all agree Stephen Curry is without a doubt the GREATEST SHOOTER of all time. You have to love watching this guy shoot the ball so effortlessly.

As a 6’3’’, 185-pound guy, Curry looks like your average Jo, which gives hope and should motivate every kid out there to get in the gym and work on their shot. Here is a player that plays below the rim, not the quickest, most explosive player out there but is very deceptive and shifty, allowing Curry to create the smallest amount of space he needs to get off a quick 3 or the most beautiful floater in the league, the soft touch finger roll that gets just high enough over the big man's reach to drop in so effortlessly. I will not bore you with all the bizarre statistical figures he has amassed up to this point in the season. I am sure the media has aided in notifying the general public of said statistics on a daily basis. I love watching Curry and company as much as the next guy, and I fully understand what kind of shooting tear this guy is on, but we all need to get in touch with reality. Let his story play out.

I am going to attempt to facilitate in the temperament of this quick, and honestly, disrespectful notion that Curry leap frogs the most influential player in the league since the departure of Michael Jordan, as the best player in the world. This is no disrespect or slighting to anyone at all. The NBA is so enjoyable to watch right now, with all of the stars healthy, the game is simply beautiful. When looking back through history, typically you would summarize each era by a name or two; 60’s Russell/Wilt, 70’s Dr. J/Kareem, 80’s Magic/Bird, 90’s Jordan, 00’s Shaq/Duncan/Kobe, 10’s LeBron. That is not saying there were not other great players within those eras, but those are the players that dominated that stretch.

For all the love and attention LeBron has received over the years, there is also an unapologetic group of people that show animosity towards the guy for whatever reason. Ever since the Miami move, people used LeBron as the object of such loathing and insult most people would not have been able to handle. For some reason, people are quick to dethrone LeBron as the best player in the world; 2010 Derrick Rose, a few month stretch that Durant had 2 years ago, and now with the shooting tear Curry is on. I get it, people get tired of talking about the same person repeatedly, which is completely understandable, but do not disrespect the game by just hyping other athletes because they have great stretches. Being the best is about consistency, and longevity.

Curry is without a doubt, the most skilled player in the world. The guy can do it all. However, you have a guy that has been in 5 straight, going on 6 straight NBA Finals (only matched by the great Bill Russell), and let’s not forget that Cleveland, missing Kevin Love/Kyrie Irving/Anderson Varejao, were up 2-1 going back to the King’s Palace during the Finals. That is no small feat when your supporting cast includes a streaky JR Smith, an unknown Dellavedova, and unproven Shumpert/Thompson/Mozgov. The leadership ability of James far exceeds anyone in the league. What more can you ask of a guy scrutinized as much as James has been, to change teams twice, turning each team into not only a title contender, but also actually playing for the championship that initial season? That feat in and of itself is beyond remarkable, and far exceeds anything Curry has done up to this point in his career. Again, no disrespect, just perspective.

Beyond James, in my personal belief, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are higher on this imaginary totem pole than Curry. These two guys, individually, are second to none in this league and deserve to be recognized within this conversation, as well.

Ultimately, let’s all just enjoy this wonderful game we have and celebrate each and every individual talent at our nightly disposal. To get caught up in daily disputes about who is better than who is not only a waste of time and energy, but more often than not, you look foolish. The average fan just pays attention to SportsCenter highlights and listens to everything the media has to say. Do us all a favor and don’t be a “SportsCenter Head.” More importantly, let’s stop jumping to conclusions so quickly when athletes get on a roll. Have respect for the game and respect the guys who have put in the years at such a high level.