When discussing the NBA’s Greatest of All Time (GOAT), the debate is often dominated by names like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. However, many now believe Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has earned his place in that conversation. Draymond Green recently shed light on why the 36-year-old point guard deserves to be mentioned among the greats.
Curry is undeniably the greatest player to ever don the Golden State Warriors jersey, and his incredible performances throughout his career have cemented his status as one of the NBA’s elite. On a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show, Green made a compelling case for Curry by comparing him to icons like LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal.
“He 100 percent is in that conversation, and he 1,000 percent belongs in that conversation,” Green said. “When you talk about what he’s done, what he does on the basketball court, there’s no one in the history of the NBA—and with all due respect to LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and my favorite player of all time, the great Shaquille O’Neal—there’s no one in the history of the NBA who has been schemed against and guarded the way Steph Curry is”.
Green continued, “I mean, teams throw their whole defense at him, I’ve played in the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers and got wide open layups, dunks in transition, because he’s running on the wing and they’d rather go run and take the three away from him on the wing and give me a dunk”.
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Stephen Curry #30 in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Shaquille O’Neal demands Curry’s inclusion in the GOAT debate
During a game between the Warriors and the Knicks, where Curry finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal echoed Green’s sentiments. “I demand you fans start putting Steph Curry in the greatest-of-all-time conversation. Just start putting him in the conversation,” he noted. “I demand it”.
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“I played against Mike, played with Kobe, and played against and with LeBron,” he continued. “They’re all great, but at some point, we have to start putting Steph Curry in that category. I’m not saying he is, but let’s just have the conversation. I have never seen anything like this before, and nobody has”.
Steve Kerr on Shaq’s comments
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr weighed in on Shaq’s remarks during an interview with 95.7 The Game’s Willard and Dibs. Kerr fully supported O’Neal’s perspective and praised Curry’s uniqueness as a superstar.
“I think he’s dead on because Steph is the most unique superstar of all time,” Kerr said of O’Neal’s comments. “He broke barriers, he changed the game. And what he does, really to this day, is unique to himself. I just can’t even imagine anybody doing the stuff he does”.
“It’s different; the way he impacts the game is different. When you have these conversations about ‘Who’s the greatest ever?’ you automatically go to these genetic marvels; you know, LeBron and Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain and whoever else. Steph doesn’t fit that normal mold,” Kerr continued. “I love that Shaq is bringing that up because, from a skills standpoint, it’s not even close. [Curry] is the greatest ever from a skills standpoint”.
