Over the last couple of years, Dahntay Jones has signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers late in the season to fulfill the team’s playoff roster. Although he hasn’t seen much time on the floor, the 36-year-old veteran does love to trash talk and get under people’s skin.
Dahntay Jones disrespects Stephen Curry
Jones’ latest remark takes a shot at Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, whom Jones and the Cavaliers have faced in the Finals three consecutive seasons. “People get mad at me because I don’t declare [Curry] a Top 10 player in the NBA, which is fine,” Jones said on the “Mickstape” podcast.
“I’ve got him on the outside – like 11, 12.”
Jones’ top three consists of teammate LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant. While those three deserve a high ranking, putting Curry outside of the top 10 is straight up disrespectful. It may be that Jones is showing serious hate towards the two-time MVP, which is quite likely since the two teams have become the biggest rival in the NBA today.
Curry certainly doesn’t rank 11th or 12th. Who else would Dahntay Jones have ahead of Curry?
The real top 10 NBA players
As of today, considering both the regular season and playoffs, LeBron James should be first, Kevin Durant second, and Russell Westbrook third. Then it should go, James Harden, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, maybe John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins.
Nonetheless, as Stephen A. Smith would say, it is blasphemous to put Curry outside of the top 10. Over the last three years, Curry has been named MVP twice, won two titles, help his team make history by winning 73 games, and has averaged 26.4 points, seven assists, and 4.7 rebounds on 43.6 percent shooting from three-point range.
The Cavaliers-Warriors rivalry
Obviously, the rivalry between the two teams has everything to do with it. Dahntay Jones has rarely played, but he has received two technical fouls off Cleveland’s bench for talking trash to Curry and the Warriors. The two teams haven’t been fond of each other over the last few years, so it’s obvious that a Cavaliers player would hate on Curry.
On the flip side, LeBron James shows tremendous respect for Curry, Durant, and the Warriors. He knows how great of a player Curry is, and despite their on-court disputes, he appreciates Curry’s game.
If Jones is somehow on Cleveland’s roster this season, the two teams will meet on Christmas day in Golden State where you can expect Stephen Curry to go off.
