Is Stephen Curry The NBA's Best Point Guard?

Over time, the game of basketball has truly evolved in terms of the premium that has now been put on perimeter play.

Years ago, teams were dominant because of the makings of their frontcourt. If a team had a dominant center and power forward combination, then they were easily one of the top squads in the NBA. The game was slower because offenses were focused on getting the ball inside for easy scores at the rim, but a lot of that has changed as basketball has modernized.

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With the implementation of the three-point line, teams have now focused more on rapid ball movement and lane penetration in order to find an open shot on the perimeter. Shooting has become the top focus of almost every offense in the league. Even big men are now stepping out from underneath the basket and hitting shots from both the mid-range and beyond the arc.

Stretch forwards are becoming a necessity in NBA offenses, as the four-around-one concept has taken the league by storm, and has really opened up space on the floor for other types of players such as post scorers and slashers to really be more effective.

Floor spacing is the name of today’s game. Having dominant shooters who can stretch the defenses have become more important than ever, meaning that players who cannot shoot the basketball at a high level are becoming less and less valuable to teams around the league.

Luckily for Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, shooting from deep has never been an issue.

Mar 1, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) controls the ball during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

From a young age, Curry has been a threat as a long-range shooter with his sweet stroke and picture-perfect form. When you actually watch Curry’s form on his jump shot, it rarely changes from shot to shot. His hand placement on the basketball, foot placement on the court and height of his jump off the floor all seem to be the same each and every single time he takes a shot. Consistency is the the ultimate key to success for a player that relies on his jump shot, and if there’s one thing Curry is, it’s consistent.

Curry also isn’t afraid to shoot the ball at any given time. Whether it’s pulling up from 15 feet or 30 feet, Curry approaches every shot the same, and never backs down from an open look.

Does Curry have nights where he doesn’t make a ton of his shots? Absolutely. A lot of great players “die” by their jump shot, as taking a shot from farther out will always have a lesser chance of going in when compared to a lay-up or dunk attempt at the rim. However, Curry has never let that stop him from being one of the most efficient offensive players the league has to offer.

For his career, Curry is a 46.9 percent shooter from the field, which includes making 43.6 percent of his three-point attempts. These numbers are ridiculous for a player that takes most of his shots outside the paint. In fact, Curry has attempted 75 percent of his shots from outside of 10 feet during his years in the NBA. Even though Curry has proven that he can finish his shots inside of 10 feet (51.4 percent on those shots), he still proves to be effective hitting the shots that he’s most comfortable taking.

Curry is one of the players that is redefining efficiency as we know it. Before him and the likes of other players like Kyle Korver, there were some teams that frowned upon living by the outside shot because of times when the game slows down. When games are close towards the end and the intensity of both teams increases, the opportunities to get a lot of looks from deep disappear because of tightened perimeter defense.

Offenses tend to turn to playing the pick-and-roll game or turning to big men that can score with their backs to the basket because transition opportunities that can lead to easy deep shots off the break are generally eliminated and harder to come by, especially in the playoffs.

However, players like Curry that can get their shot anytime they want, and can make those shots, are completely changing the game of basketball. Being able to make shots that result in extra points are huge when it comes to winning a championship, it’s just that simple. Three points are better than two. Players like Curry that can give their team that advantage are being sought after now more than ever.

What teams may not be understanding just yet is why Curry is such an effective shooter. Yes, he has one of the purest shooting forms in the NBA, but it’s his ball-handling ability that really helps him be special every night.

Curry’s handles are among some of the best in the league. His variety of through-the-leg and around-the-back dribbles can easily throw off anyone trying to guard him one-on-one, and his exceptional awareness of individual and team movements on defense makes him one of the most dangerous offensive talents in the NBA.

Not only is Curry one of the better ball-handlers around the league, but his passing ability also helps set up any of his shot attempts. Defenses have to be aware of where Curry is on the floor at all times as well as how he has his body and dribble positioned.

Curry has many different passing moves that he can turn to in order to get the ball out of his hands at any point, meaning that defenses can’t exactly play him too tight because of his tendency to set his teammates up with quality shots. Any kind of separation Curry can get is valuable to him because of how quick the release on his shot is. Even a few inches of space could mean a jump shot from Curry.

It is clear that Curry is not just your ordinary stand in the corner three-point shooter. He has no problem getting his shot off at any time from anywhere on the floor, and all of that combined with his other skills on the offensive end may very well make him the best point guard in the NBA today, potentially even the world’s best floor general.

No other player has his combination of shooting, passing and ball-handling. In fact, no other player in the league comes close, period. Curry doesn’t hang his hat on defense, and lacks elite size and athleticism, which means he doesn’t overtake the spot of best player in the league quite yet. LeBron James still holds that title with Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis not too far behind.

With that being said, pound-for-pound, Curry is the most skilled basketball player today. What he has done to help his Warriors team hold the best record in the toughest Western Conference in recent memory is remarkable.

Because Curry is such a threat on offense, this opens up shots for other players on the team that they may not get without him on the floor. Guys like Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have seen spikes in their overall efficiency, in no small part to Curry drawing the attention of the defense and dishing them the ball in the right places at the right times.

Curry has the ability to carry a team by himself because of what he brings to the table. He’s done enough to make his case as the league’s best point guard, and should continue to do so for years to come. If he’s able to win the NBA’s MVP award, not many analysts would be surprised. Curry is just that potent of an offensive talent, a player who truly is someone to behold every time he steps on the court.

*Statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.

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Is Stephen Curry The NBA’s Best Point Guard?

By Nathan Grubel | Mar 2, 2015

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