Over the past 75+ years, countless NBA players have left their imprint on the game. For former league point guard Jalen Rose, Warriors guard Stephen Curry has the biggest impact of all the modern-day athletes, including LeBron James.
Rachel DeMita: “Do you think he (Stephen Curry) is the most influential player in the game right now?”
Jalen Rose: “Right now, yes,” said Jalen on the ‘Courtside Club’ podcast. “When you see LeBron James you can’t ignore the fact that he’s a physical specimen. But when you see Steph Curry you’re like ‘Him? We’re the same height, we are the same build, I can be him!’ That influence plus his game and his championship pedigree and getting his Finals MVP. Steph Curry is not a point guard or a shooting guard. I’ve called him the Vanguard for years. The leader of the new school.
As a former NBA point guard himself, Jalen knows what it takes to succeed at the position. The 13-year veteran averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game on 44.3% shooting. During his run in the 90s and 2000s, he crossed paths with various basketball legends, from Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
But when it comes to the modern game, Jalen knows that Stephen Curry is the one who paved the way. Coming out of Davidson, nobody was sure what to expect from the 6’2″ point guard but it’s fair to say he’s surpassed all expectations after 15 years in the NBA.
Starting in 2009, when he was drafted 7th overall by the Warriors, Steph’s career has more than changed the NBA, it’s changed the sport itself. As he made his gradual ascent into superstardom, teams across the league began to realize the value of the three-point shot and it’s become the main offensive focus for almost every team in the league.
In the 2015-16 campaign Curry had his best campaign to date with averages of 30.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game on 50.4% shooting. He won unanimous MVP that year (his second straight) before leading his team to within one win of the championship. Between his shooting, his leadership, and his selfless style of play, Steph proved to be an effective and powerful leader for the Warriors and his co-stars (Klay Thompson and Draymond Green) were happy to follow him to amazing success.
Eventually, the situation with the Warriors simmered down and when Kevin Durant left in 2019, it changed the NBA hierarchy in a major way. In the years that followed, the Warriors have had mixed results trying to win another title but what he’s already accomplished will never be taken for granted.
Today, as a 4x champion, 2x MVP, and 10x All-Star, Steph’s legacy as an all-time NBA great is already secured. He built a dynasty with the Warriors and transformed them from an afterthought to one of the most valuable franchises in sports. In the process, he launched a three-point revolution in the sport which has forever altered the way that the game will be played. In many ways, Curry broke the mold on how people think about NBA superstars and he’s living proof that you don’t need to be a peak physical specimen in order to succeed at the highest level of the game.
