In the world of basketball, the debate over who left the biggest mark on the game is rife. Recently, however, Hall of Famer Paul Pierce brought an interesting perspective.
During last Thursday’s episode of “Undisputed,” the legendary forward explained why he firmly believes in the NBA star golden state warriors, Stephen Currythe impact on the NBA exceeds LeBron James anyone Michael Jordan.
“He has a bigger impact on the game than (LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant)…I watched the Celtics game last night…the first 10 shots were three Split the ball. Everybody thought they might be Steph,” Pierce commented.
Although Pierce has had feuds with James in the past, it dates back to their time as rivals. boston celtics and miami heatCurry’s impact on the modern basketball landscape has been widely documented.
James himself listed the Warriors star alongside the Hall of Fame point guard during last Tuesday’s episode of the Eye on the Game Podcast. Allen IversonAs two of the most influential players in NBA history.
“As long as I’ve been watching and covering, Steph and Allen Iverson have been two of the most impactful guys in our game,” James said.
“Those two guys are the most impactful when you play the game, how they change the game and the impact they have on kids, those two guys are the ones you want to see every night,” James added.
Curry’s changes
The year before Curry’s first MVP season, NBA teams were averaging 21.5 three-point attempts per game (per Basketball Reference). The team is currently averaging 35 deep attempts per night in the 2023-24 season.
While James and Jordan are undoubtedly two of the greatest players in NBA history, Curry’s impact on contemporary players and teams cannot be underestimated. His ability to change the dynamics of a game and influence on the mentality of young players left an indelible mark on modern basketball.