When discussing the greatest of all time in NBA history, names like Michael Jordan and LeBron James dominate the conversation. However, in recent years, some league legends have started putting Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry into that mix. One former player, in particular, believes the 37-year-old guard stands above them all.
Former Indiana Pacers player Victor Oladipo, on his podcast Inner Court, crowned Curry as the greatest of all time, citing his transformative impact on the game of basketball.
“I would consider him the best ever,” Oladipo said. “And I would consider him that because he’s supposed to be playing golf, bro. If you really look at him, he’s supposed to be playing golf. He’s out there, and he Himalaya out there. He’s doing his thing”.
Oladipo further explained Curry’s revolutionary effect on the sport. “He’s changed the game completely. … I saw him, I had to guard him, it’s really different. He has changed the game so drastically that guys shoot 50 threes a game now, and that’s only because of him”.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making his 4000th career three-pointer against the Sacramento Kings. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The “Golden Dynasty” spearheaded by Curry and the Warriors was instrumental in normalizing three-point-heavy offenses. Over time, this became a defining strategy for teams across the league. Curry, now the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers, has made an astounding 4,008 triples.
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Oladipo credits Klay Thompson for revolutionizing the game as well
While Oladipo singled out Curry for his influence on the game, he also gave credit to Klay Thompson, Curry’s fellow “Splash Brother.” The duo owns the rare distinction of each scoring 12 or more three-pointers in multiple games. Additionally, Thompson still holds the record for most three-pointers made in a single game, with an incredible 14.
“I’ll give Klay [Thompson] some credit too, their style of playing in Golden State, but man, [Curry] changed the game completely,” Oladipo noted. “And I gotta consider you one of the greats if you change the game like that, if you change the format of how we play as a whole”.
Shaquille O’Neal echoes Oladipo’s sentiments
After the Warriors’ dominant 130-104 victory over the Kings, where Curry surpassed 4,000 career three-pointers, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal also expressed his admiration for the Warriors guard. On NBA Today, O’Neal acknowledged Curry’s transformative impact on the league.
“The way he plays the game, how he plays the game,” Shaq said. “I mentioned on our show, you should at least put his name in the GOAT conversation. I like the way he plays; he definitely changed the game. Because of him, over the last three or four years, teams have been running the three-man heave at the top of the key. Every team is shooting threes, and they want to blame it on analytics. No—it’s because everybody wanted to beat the Golden State Warriors”.
