NBA: Ranking every team’s best player in 2019-20

Wardell Stephen Curry II has been making headlines recently as his place among the all-time great players is discussed. Is he the best point guard in NBA history (not yet, but he may be by the time he’s done)? Is his career better than Kobe Bryant’s (yes, unquestionably)? For the player who broke the game, this next season is his to dominate.

When we last saw Stephen Curry at his peak, he was the unanimous MVP of the league. He then willingly took on a diminished role to bring in Kevin Durant to win titles and the Golden State Warriors brought in two and likely would have a third if not for Durant and Klay Thompson going down with injuries.

Now Durant is gone, Thompson is recovering and the offense is once more Stephen Curry’s.

Curry led the league in total 3-pointers made for five straight seasons, transforming the offensive and defensive landscape of the league. Offenses tried to replicate the increase in 3-point shots, while defenses stretched to the breaking point were forced to adjust personnel and scheme to survive.

From 2012-13 (Curry’s first healthy season) through last year, he made 2,111 3-point field goals in the regular season; the next highest is James Harden at 1,705, in 31 more games.

That is the Curry who is being unleashed on the league once again, being called upon to lead this offense. That Curry generates a positive NBA offense simply by being on the court, seemingly irrespective of the surrounding players. Pair him with Draymond Green, still a star-level player and still on the team, and this team should still have a top-10 offense.

Count Steph Curry out at your own peril; his combination of leadership, shooting and basketball intelligence have never been matched in NBA history, and he is going to need to play at his best to ensure the Golden State Warriors don’t miss out on the playoffs.

Looking ahead: Curry’s game is such that he should age well, and the Warriors will always need hs shooting. His leadership is something that will likewise always matter and an attempt is made to factor that in here as well.

Klay Thompson should also age well and brings strong defensive impact as well and if Curry were to hit the aging curve hard or have a major injury himself Thompson would be the pick. D’Angelo Russell is young and talented but probably caps out at a level below Curry while he is on the team.

For now Steph Curry is the best player on his team, the best player in the league, and one of the best players in NBA history.