Why Curry vs. Westbrook Is The NBA’s Next Great Rivalry
Different Worlds
Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook were both overlooked coming out of high school.
Scouts didn’t really notice any star potential in the two. Both were relatively undersized for their positions and were three-star recruits in their senior year, according to Rivals.com. Both were lottery picks, but people had questions about how their skills would translate to the next level.
That’s where the similarities end between the two.
Westbrook played for a historic basketball powerhouse and multiple Final Four squads in college and found immediate success in the league, making a playoff bid in his sophomore season, earning an All-Star nod in his third year and reaching the Finals by Year 4.
Curry’s path was literally the opposite, as he went to little old Davidson University, kicked down the door to stardom in college with a fantastic 2008 NCAA Tournament run before being slept on again in the pros and having to work to become the revolutionary superstar he is now.
Now in their respective primes, the two are at opposite ends of the spectrum in every way.
Westbrook is an explosive athlete with the personality to match, as he dominates with blinding speed, otherworldly bounce and an unbridled rage comparable to that of Kobe Bryant in his prime.
He gets down the floor faster than a speeding bullet, punishes the rim and screams at the top of his lungs while doing it all. His style is angry and fierce, as reflected by the permanently affixed snarl on his face during games.
On the other hand, Curry’s loose, fun-loving personality on the court almost rivals that of Magic Johnson and he is arguably the greatest skill player in the game today.
He has perfected one of — if not the most — essential skills in the game of basketball and turned it into a lethal weapon he unleashes on the masses.
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Blue Man Hoop
Add this to his Pete Maravich-style ballhandling and passing and you have a rather electric floor general reminiscent of the architect of Showtime.
However, what makes Curry’s style of play even more captivating is his demeanor on the court. It’s the exact opposite of Westbrook’s in that he shimmies after hitting half-court shots, turns away after throwing up threes like he already knows it’s good and humbly points to the sky after every shot he makes, no matter how big or small.
The dichotomy even extends to their off-court style as Curry’s is more subtle while Westbrook’s is loud, brash and pushing the boundaries of what’s considered fashionable.
While these differences definitely make the rivalry intriguing, it’s elevated to another level by the one thing they have in common.
Next: Dominance