NBA veterans have never seen anything like Stephen Curry
Tyson Chandler believes the Warriors are a new era of basketball. Jason Terry believes it's due to faith. Steve Nash thinks he's a transcendent talent. No one's seen anything like Stephen Curry
There is a delicate line to walk with Stephen Curry right now, when it comes to asking other NBA people about it.
On the one hand, don't get it twisted, the league is talking about him every day. Every shootaround I've been to, someone mentions something Curry has done, or how he's playing. From Dwight Howard doing an overly fancy crossover then launching a 3-point hook shot while celebrating before the shot got to rim (which it never did) in an impersonation, to one player saying "he's the baddest," everyone is aware of how universally insane the reigning MVP is playing.
On the other hand, you have to be careful with asking players and coaches about an opponent they're getting asked a lot about, especially when that's not the opponent that's next up for them. Chris Paul was annoyed with Stephen Curry questions. Players have noticed it, too.
Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, a part-time player development consultant for the Warriors went out and said Curry may be the most skilled player in the history of the game, and it's kind of hard to argue with him.
I wouldn't compare him to Michael Jordan. I wouldn't compare anybody to Michael.
But I would say Steph is turning into a historical category of his own, in a way.
He’s in the prime of his career and will be for a few years and the way he’s improving and the level he's playing at is ... I think he's unlike anyone else. His ability to make shots and still handle the play-making duties is historic.I think you'd be hard pressed to find a player more skilled than him in the history of the game.
Interestingly, Nash played under Mike D'Antoni, who the Warriors themselves have credited for inspiring their style of play. That's the same viewpoint that Tyson Chandler, a long-time NBA veteran, has of the Warriors' "revolution" as well.
"The game's just changing," Chandler told CBS Sports I think D'Antoni changed the game. He saw this, and he was years ahead with what he was creating offensively. And now teams are benefiting from what he started."
Most players, though, are just in awe of what Curry's able to accomplish.
"I have not (seen anything like Steph)," Jason Terry, who's been known to light it up in his career said to CBS Sports last week. "The closest thing to him was Reggie Miller. Reggie was a guy who could shoot from anywhere. But the ball-handling skills, the ability to do it on the ball, off the ball, and then have it correlate into wins for his team? Nobody's ever done it like that. He's in a rarefied air. It's a credit to his work ethic, and his strong belief in God. I believe that's what's driving this man."
A mission from God, you say?
Whether it's divine intervention or the revolution of basketball coming to usher in a new age, Suns' coach Jeff Hornacek put it pretty simply Friday when asked if he'd ever seen anything like Curry.
"No," Hornacek said simply, quickly shaking his head while walking away. "He's ridiculous."
Ain't that the truth.
