The list of former NBA stars coming out to take underhanded shots at reigning MVP Stephen Curry grew on Thursday when Hall of Famer Walt Frazier decided to speak out on what the guard is doing in today’s NBA.
Frazier, a seven-time All-Star during his 14 seasons in the Association, is considered one of the best point guards of all-time.
He also played the vast majority of his career (minus three games in 1979-80) during an era where the three-point line had not yet been established in the NBA.
Frazier utilizes that point in response to questions regarding the comparison of Curry’s performance to previous eras:
“There’s no comparison because of the 3-ball, man,” the Knicks broadcaster said on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” on Thursday morning (h/t CSN Bay Area). “Former players, I never had an opportunity for the 3-ball … if there was no 3-ball shot, would we be talking about the greatness of Curry today? What has made him great is his ability, uncanny ability, to shoot from 30 feet, 35 feet, the accuracy that he has shown in making that particular shot.”
Considering Curry holds the top-three spots for three-pointers made in a single season, Frazier could be on to something here. He could also be looking at this from a narrow-minded point of view.
Let’s say for a second that the three-point line was never established. Curry would still be averaging 25.5 points per game in that hypothetical scenario.
More than this, the game has changed from what it was during Frazier’s tenure as one of the top players in the NBA.
With this change comes an inability of old-timers to adjust their thinking, as evidenced by Oscar Robertson’s comments regarding Curry.
Frazier continued:
“To me, this is where Curry is. He’s having that phenomenal season, a signature season, but is he gonna do this for the next five years? I don’t really think so. So I don’t know if he’ll ever reach this level again. So this is what he’s doing now, maybe they won’t be able to stop him this year, but they’ll have to find a way to contain this guy like they’ve done Kobe, like they’re doing LeBron, like they’ve done all the other superstars in the league.”
Okay, this is where it gets rather interesting. Kobe wasn’t contained until his age and injuries caught up to him. LeBron James has led his teams to five consecutive Eastern Conference titles.
The unmentionable here, Michael Jordan, won six consecutive NBA titles in full seasons that he suited up in for the Chicago Bulls in the 1990’s.
Containing the world’s greatest basketball players is easier said than done. And as of right now, Curry is the top player on the planet.
Speaking of such, isn’t it a bit odd that Frazier would go as far to indicate that Curry’s at the height of his career?
Some had drawn that conclusion during his MVP campaign last season — a performance that saw Golden State win 67 games and the title.
Golden State is now on pace to best the Chicago Bulls single-season record of 72 wins — a record that many had figured was impossible to attain prior to this year.
Curry is changing the basketball landscape. It might be time for those stars of the past to change their thinking with it.