Curry GOAT?
The GOAT conversation is a wonderful time waster. I love it and more than amenable to change. But as of this writing, June 1, 2022, the day before Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals, there is a solid argument to be made that Golden State Warrior Steph Curry* is the greatest of all time.
Before we go any further, I should reveal my background. I am 39-years-old. I grew up a Chicago Bulls fan. I grew up in and around Chicago during the Jordan years. I was 9 when the Bulls won their first title and in high school when they won their last. I remember wearing Jordan merch because he was a Chicago Bull, not Michael Jordan. I was completely spoiled by Michael Jordan’s on-court abilities. The extraordinary became the norm. So yeah, Jordan is obviously the greatest basketball player. But the GOAT is more than just basketball.
I also caddied in the Chicago suburbs, at a club Jordan golfed at, and the mystique was shattered early on. So I’m more than willing to say LeBron has the potential to be the GOAT.
For better or worse, since the passing of Kobe Bryant, he has re-entered the GOAT conversation.
So, who is the GOAT? Jordan? LeBron? Kobe? Curry? If this is fluid, right now, I’m going with Curry.
Accolades
Jordan has the most titles and MVPs. LeBron is trying to catch up. Curry is about to match Kobe.
Jordan and Kobe are done. Their stats are set in stone. Barring any more major injuries, LeBron has less time left in the NBA than Curry. In other words, Curry has the brighter future. There’s no reason to believe he can’t reach 6 titles. He’s already half-way there and on a way better team than LeBron.
Jordan has the most accolades. But if we’re going with number of years played and accolades, Curry wins on ratios.
Iconic Look
Jordan has the tongue. Jordan has Jumpman. It’s Jordan.
But Curry has that mouthguard chewing thing and I did that when I played sports so Curry is second.
LeBron’s look is refusing to go bald. Good for him. If it’s not clear, I am a LeBron fan.
Kobe’s iconic look is wearing two different numbers on the same team and winning championships in both. That’s pretty good.
Name Recognition
Kids love Steph Curry! He does something most every kid can do: shoot! Jordan did everything well, but especially posterize opponents. Curry’s popular moves (3s!) are achievable with hard work. Jordan’s popular moves are achievable with hard work and certain physical attributes you can’t teach (height, Jordan is 4 inches taller than Curry).
Of the four, LeBron is the greatest athlete. Maybe one of these other guys could have done The Block, but LeBron did The Block. But no kid can do The Block.
Kobe is known for…what? The Mamba Mentality? An ethos cribbed from a Tarantino film about a woman that was sexually assaulted?
LeBron may have the most worldwide name recognition, but it’s only because the Lakers are the most important NBA team of all time. In two weeks, Curry may re-take this spot.
Positive Name Recognition
Thus far there are no sexual assault cases against Curry.
Thus far there are no conspiracy theories about Curry’s gambling habits.
Thus far Curry has not vowed to take his talents to a nearby beach.
Curry wins.
Shoes
All of these athletes have signature shows. Jordan wins, obviously. Kobe’s are pretty great, LeBron’s are hit and miss and Curry’s are so bad they might become amazing and also so inspiring they are amazing (none of the other dudes made a concerted effort to get a girls version of the shoe made). Therefore, Jordan once again wins but there’s an argument Curry is second or forth.
Loyalty
Though I don’t really care about this, some do and it should be noted Curry has only played for the Golden State Warriors. Jordan played for the Wizards AND THAT COUNTS! LeBron is a Laker and was a Cav and a Heat and a Cav. Kobe was only a Laker but forced Shaq off the team and that’s worse than switching teams.
Curry wins.
Film and TV
Jordan wins this. It’s no contest. He played himself in Space Jam. A very not good film became beloved for IP reasons and LeBron tried to step in MJ’s shows in Space Jam: A New Legacy. It was slightly worse than the original.
Jordan also hosted an iconic SNL (it’s good in spite of him), starred in legendary Gatorade commercials (I did want to be like Mike! Bring back glass Gatorade bottles!) and was the perfect straight man in the Spike Lee “It’s Gotta Be The Shoes” Nike ads.
But Curry’s limited film and TV is respectable. Thanks to his wife Ayesha, Steph has become a talk show host (About Last Night) and loving TV husband (Ayesha’s Home Kitchen). Thanks to his love of the links, Steph is the force behind ABC’s Holey Moley, a competition show about mini-golf that as of this writing, has not led the Curry to acquire millions in gambling debts.
Kobe actually had the most successful TV and film run if you consider his Oscar win for the short Dear Basketball. But the 2018 Academy Award win was in the midst of the #MeToo/Time’s Up movement and, well, see above.
Conclusion
Curry is the GOAT if the GOAT is more than on court stuff.
Jordan is the GOAT if the GOAT is the basketball player with the most championships.
LeBron is the GOAT if the GOAT is the best athlete.
Kobe is not the GOAT.
*I do not care that Curry was the second best player on two of his championship teams. One could argue Jordan doesn’t win 6 without Pippen, LeBron doesn’t win without Davis, Kyrie, Bosh and Wade and Kobe doesn’t win without Shaq. It’s a team sport. Being the GOAT is also being smart enough to stick with certain teammates.
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