Author of 41 points on MLK Day once morest the Wizards, Stephen Curry has formalized his return following several weeks of absence due to injury. A great performance, all this under the eyes of many fans committed to his cause while the match was taking place in… Washington. He’s like that Steph, he moves crowds and his fans are everywhere. Something to bring back memories to Steve Kerr, who did not hesitate to compare his favorite with Michael Jordan himself.
“He’s the modern day GM.”
The quote will get people talking, but it comes from someone who knows what he’s talking regarding. During the second half of the 1990s, Steve Kerr played for the Chicago Bulls, winning three consecutive NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan, which was then at the height of its glory. As you may have seen in the docuseries “The Last Dance”, MJ was the main attraction wherever he went, home and away. And today, as coach of Golden State, Kerr finds that with Stephen Curry, the most popular player in the NBA with LeBron James and a true revolutionary of the game.
“I used to see that when I was playing with the Bulls. Half of the public with a red jersey with the number 23, and today half of the public has a blue and yellow jersey with the number 30.
– Steve Kerr, via NBC Sports Bay Area
It’s no secret that Stephen Curry changed basketball. With his unique game, his ability to score everywhere, his exceptional technique and his ideal son-in-law side, the best shooter in the history of the orange ball has become one of the main faces of the NBA from 2015, when the Warriors started their dynasty. Four championship titles later and following winning his first Finals MVP title last June, Steph seems to be at the height of his popularity. We saw it once more in Washington yesterday with “MVPs! MVP!” coming from the stands, but also a few days ago in San Antonio, where his presence with the Warriors inevitably helped to establish a new all-time attendance record.
“Steph transcends the game. He gets people excited because he’s so amazing through his game. No matter where you go, there are people who support him and can’t wait to see him play. because we have never seen a player like him. And I think people come to relate to him because he’s not this physical superhero. He is 1m88 for 85 kilos. There are many people who are this size but no one is able to do what they do.
He is an incredible source of inspiration and that’s why we have so many supporters outside.
The comparison made by Steve Kerr is not blasphemous. Of course, when it comes to style of play, Curry and Jordan don’t have much in common. Admittedly, MJ’s number one contender in the GOAT discussion is LeBron James, not Stephen Curry. But in terms of impact and influence on the younger generations, there we can talk.
From “Be Like Mike”, we went a bit to “Be Like Steph”. Often imitated but never equaled, Curry became the new role model, and under his leadership the Warriors became the most popular team of the past decade. Like the Bulls in the 1990s.
So yes, somewhere there is GM in Steph Curry.
_____
Source texte : NBC Sports Warriors
