Steph Curry’s Realization of His Impact on Basketball
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry became aware of his profound influence on the NBA with the emergence of Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young. In 2015, former broadcaster and Warriors coach Mark Jackson provocatively said that Curry was “hurting the game,” pointing out that young players prioritized 3-point shooting over other fundamental skills.
While opinions differ on whether Curry’s impact is positive or negative, his influence is undeniable. Since Curry’s NBA debut, the average number of 3-pointers made per game has more than doubled.
Recognition Through Trae Young’s Comparison
On the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James and Steve Nash, LeBron asked Curry when he first realized his game was transcendent. Curry credited the moment to Trae Young’s arrival in the league, who was often called the “next Steph Curry.”
“When [Atlanta Hawks guard] Trae Young came in the league, and that was like the first person they said was the next ‘me,’ even though he’s a different player.”
Leading into the 2018 NBA Draft, Young was frequently compared to Curry because of his prolific long-range shooting during his time at Oklahoma. This was the first time Curry truly recognized the extent of his impact.
“That might be the first time I thought of it or really experienced what the impact was.”
Despite Mark Jackson’s harsh comment, Curry later viewed such criticism with humor, understanding the influence he has on the game.
“But I got that ‘you ruined the game’ question after Mark said it. Now it’s kind of tongue-in-cheek, just because you understand there is an influence.”
Author’s Summary
Steph Curry’s recognition of his influence through Trae Young highlights his transformative impact on basketball, especially in popularizing three-point shooting.