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Is Stephen Curry A Most Improved Player Of The Year Candidate?

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) pumps his fists after making a shot during the second half of the Golden State Warriors 124-119 double overtime win over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) pumps his fists after making a shot during the second half of the Golden State Warriors 124-119 double overtime win over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 8, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) takes a shot against Indiana Pacers forward Solomon Hill (44) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Golden State defeats Indiana 131-123. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Shooting Prowess

Curry’s scoring numbers are clearly on the rise, but diving into the way he’s been getting his points shows the substantial improvements in his offensive game.

Though we all know Curry is a cold-blooded sniper from three-point range, knocking down an absurd 45.8 percent of his 11.1 three-point attempts per game, he’s also somehow become one of the league’s most efficient finishers at the rim.

According to NBA.com, Curry is converting 66 percent of his shots around the basket — up from 63.2 percent last year. On two-point shots, Curry’s field goal percentage has improved from 52.8 percent to 58.4 percent this year. With the ability to break people down off the dribble and absorb or out-maneuver contact with crafty scoop shots, Curry is just as hard to stop at the rim as he is on the perimeter.

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Stephen Curry’s 2015-16 shot chart through the first 25 games, per NBA.com /

That being said, Curry’s improved proficiency from three-point range can’t be ignored either. For one thing, Curry is on pace to join the 50-40-90 club for the first time in his career, which is unbelievable considering he’s taking 11.1 three-pointers and 20.6 field goal attempts per game.

Last season, Curry set the NBA single season record for made three-pointers with 286. This year, he’s on pace to absolutely embarrass his own record with 417. It’s no wonder his seven 40-point games leads the league.

In catch-and-shoot situations, Curry is shooting an unprecedented 49.2 percent from three-point range, up from 47.9 percent last year. On wide open threes, he’s shooting 50.7 percent from deep, up from 47 percent last season. He was already the league’s deadliest scorer last season, but he’s somehow found a way to crank it up to levels previously thought to be unsustainable.

Next: Other Improvements

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