Stephen Curry’s game-winning, 3-point shot in overtime Saturday night, with six-tenths of a second left on the game clock, on the side of the team’s benches, 32 feet away, has been described as amazing, magical and lucky by some disgruntled Oklahoma Thunder fans.
“It’s absurd,” said Curry’s teammate Draymond Green.
“He’s ridiculous, man,” tweeted LeBron James.
“Curry is unreal,” posted Dwyane Wade.
“If Stephen Curry’s game-winning 3-pointer doesn’t prove he’s the greatest shooter we’ve ever seen, I don’t know what will,” tweeted Magic Johnson.
Golden States’ win makes them the first team to clinch an NBA playoff position so far this season. Curry tied the NBA record for most threes in a game, 12, hitting 46 total points, his third 40-point game in a row. Curry also broke his own NBA record, logging 288 threes thus far this season. Golden State is currently 54-5, averaging one loss per month since the start of this NBA season.
Curry’s scoring prowess the negative scouting reports that were issued by the so-called professional scouts when he declared himself eligible for the draft as a Davidson College student athlete in 2009. This week alone, the report by an ESPN scout/reporter from 2009 was re-published on all basketball sites throughout the Internet. It read, “Stephen Curry declared for NBA draft. He doesn’t have the upside of Rubio. Jennings, Flynn, Mills, Teague all more athletic.”
Blake Griffin was drafted number one. Except for recently injuring his hand in a fight with a team staff member, there was nothing wrong with the Los Angeles Clippers’ choice.
James Harding was the number three pick to Oklahoma City. Nothing wrong there.
Picked at number seven in the first round by the Golden State Warriors, Curry has far exceeded the number 2 pick, Hasheem Thabeet, by the Memphis Grizzlies, Tyreke Evans by the Sacramento Kings at number 4, Ricky Rubio by the Minnesota Timberwolves at number 5 and Jonny Flynn, the Timbs pick at number 6. They qualify for Internet posts such as “Where Are They Now?”
For New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets fans, you may remember that the Knicks picked eighth, and Brooklyn 11th in the draft. Fans can only imagine what could have been if Curry, averaging 30.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game this season, was shooting his quick, fall away crossover jumpers here at the World’s Most Famous Arena or at Flatbush and Atlantic. But would he have been able to develop his game here the way he’s progressed out there? If he had been chosen by the Knicks in 2009, would this season’s leading MVP candidate still even be here on the roster?
