When you think of the greatest players in the world, multiple names can pop up. The best of the best have been on top of the NBA for years. LeBron James and Kevin Durant have been considered the two best players in the world over the last decade. Now last season's Finals MVP Giannis Antetkounmpo has entered the conversation of top dog. Still, it's one name that's never mentioned in the best in the world conversation, even though he's the most impactful player in the game.
That name is two-time MVP Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. The sharpshooter single-handedly changed the way basketball is played all over the world. His shooting is unlike anything we've ever seen, and although many play a similar style, nobody can duplicate the things he's done in his career. Shooting is his thing, but he is much more to his team than that.
Stephen Curry's Unbeatable Impact
Last season when Stephen Curry was on the floor offensively, the team thrived, but when he took a break, the Warriors' offense was a tragedy. On the floor, Curry held an offensive rating of 114.2 compared to when off the court it dropped to 101.8. The Warriors heavily depended on the presence of Curry. If he wasn't available at all, things were horrid.
In the 2020-21 season, Curry dominated the competition when it came to real plus-minus stats. He accounted for the most wins in the NBA with 19.05. The nearest player to Curry was center Rudy Gobert at 16.52. Then in the real plus-minus category, Curry was also atop all NBA players with an RPM of 7.18. James was in second with 6.73.
The average fan would only notice Stephen Curry averaging the most points in the NBA with 32.0 points, but if you look a little deeper into what that meant, you would see a more profound message. Curry's ORPM 7.08 left everyone else in the dust. James was the nearest player once again with 4.63 and Durant 4.07. The significant separation could lead some to think Curry is the biggest offensive weapon in the game.
It doesn't mean Curry is the best player in the NBA, but you can say he is slightly underrated. The one thing he's constantly credited for is his shooting, and that might deserve a little more respect. His shooting allows him to score in ways former NBA players only imagined. It's the reason you have Hall of Fame players throwing shots at today's game, like Dennis Rodman did just recently.
Once again, this is not saying Stephen Curry is the best player in the world. But there's just no way you can leave him out as the most impactful player in the NBA. He puts on a one-of-a-kind show on a nightly basis that's never disappointing, but also has a profound impact on the team's success. He's a superstar that's rarely outshined.
The Warriors are looking to bounce back from a sub-par year and make a playoff push. If making a run is possible, they will need all they can get from the player who impacts the game more than anybody Stephen Curry.
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