Okay, so I'm going to go on a little tirade right now. In 2015, Business Insider posted an article titled "Move over LeBron James, you are no longer the best player on the planet" referring to Steph Curry supposedly being the best player in the world, the article went viral, so I thought I needed to address this.
Curry has only recently started to dominate the NBA
Let me get this straight; a player who wasn't talked about five years ago is suddenly surpassing LeBron James as the best player in the league? A guy who averaged 23 points, seven assists, and four rebounds in his 2015 MVP season is better than a man who has averaged 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for his career.
A guy who has dominated the league winning 4 MVP's, 3 Finals MVP's and leading a team to eight Finals appearances in his 15-year career. Curry, on the other hand, has 2 MVPs, 0 Finals MVP's and been in a system with a great coach and an incredible crafted team which won the 2015 NBA Finals against LeBron James, Dellavedova, Mozgoz. While Curry didn't even win the Finals MVP award, LeBron had the 2nd most votes for the award, and his team lost. You can talk all you want about the Warriors beating the Cavaliers in the series but let's switch the places of the two, would a Curry led Cavaliers without Kyrie or Love even win a game against a well rounded LeBron led Warriors team? LeBron averaged a near 40 point triple double in that series, putting the team on his back, While Curry averaged a paltry 26, 5 and 6.
Curry is a great player, but he is not on LeBron's level
I will be the first to admit it: Curry is one of the greatest shooters we've ever had in our game, one of the best ball handlers in our game. But LeBron is one of the renowned scorers, passers, defensive players, leaders, athletic we've ever had in NBA history, To go along with his crazy high IQ.
LeBron left the Cavaliers to join the Heat in 2010; the Cavs then missed the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. Once LBJ made a return to the Cavaliers in 2014, the Heat with Bosh, Wade, etc. missed the playoffs for the first time in years. I can assure you; Curry wouldn't have had nearly an impact that LeBron does, bring teams from a non-playoff position, to the Finals.
Curry has a long way to go before catching LeBron
LeBron recently celebrated his 28,000 points at the age of 32 years old. Curry is just three years younger but has yet to celebrate his 8,000 points. LeBron James has 55 career triple doubles; Curry has 5.Curry has 3,900 career assists; LeBron has 7400. I am in no way a hater of Curry, he has improved in his career and thrives in the Warriors sharp shooting system. I shouldn't even need writing this essay, but Curry is being talked about as the best player in the NBA? It's just ludicrous.LeBron is just all around on an entirely different spectrum to Steph. Curry can shoot better; Curry can handle the ball better, LeBron's better at every other aspect of the game offensively and defensively.
