Season after season there is a fight between the best NBA players and their place in history. What a title means and what is known as ring culture, winning multiple rings or transcending the sport. In that category is, without a doubt, Stephen Curry after changing basketball with his Golden State Warriors.
With Curry, there is already legitimate doubt about his status in the big picture – is he the best of his era, and where does he rank in history? For now, at point guard, he has four NBA championship titles, two regular season MVPs including a unanimous award and one from the Finals two years ago against the Boston Celtics.
Is he any good? Not for his most serious competitor in that ranking, Magic Johnson. The Lakers legend is yet another of those old-school geniuses who defends his own against newcomers.
“OK, so, if he got more than five championships, if he got more than three Finals MVPs, and three league MVPs, then he’s the greatest,” Magic began during a CBS Sports Radio interview with Zach Gelb.
“If he got more than No. 1 in assists all time in the Finals, No. 2 in double-doubles [in the playoffs and Finals], No. 1 in triple-doubles all time in the NBA playoffs, No. 4 in steals all time in the playoffs, if he got more than those numbers, then he’s the best.
“If he got more than all those things, he’s the best but the last time I checked, he doesn’t.”
What does Curry think? What is known for sure is that he appreciates Magic. When he had to choose his ideal quintet, he chose the Lakers legend, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal. But his career is still very much alive and he will once again be able to add to his numbers.