Steph is a game-changer, but some players from past generations have a different view of it.
Stephen Curry is one of the most important players in NBA history and has made a maker on the league during his 16 years in the league. His dominance was based on the three-point shot and ball handling. Even today, he is scoring at an alarming rate, and his impact can be seen as almost every player is shooting threes, and guards are trying to play like him,
Since he influenced such a massive shift, players from past generations were surprised when they saw the game pivot. One of those players was the iconic Oscar Robertson, who acknowledged Steph’s greatness but also gave him a bit of a backhanded compliment.
“I look at games today, and they’ll start a defense at the foul line. When I played, they were picking you up when you got the ball inbounds. So it’s a different strategy about playing defense,” Robertson said to NJ.com’s Randy Miller. “He’s shot well because of what’s going on in basketball today. In basketball today, it’s almost like if you can dunk or make a three-point shot, you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.”
Basketball has changed over the years
While Robertson is one of the sport’s biggest icons, basketball has evolved from when he played in the 1960s to what it is today in the 2020s. In those 60+ years, basketball players have become more athletic and s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed.
Modern basketball revolves around efficiency, with teams prioritizing three-point shooting and high-percentage opportunities. This contrasts with the era of “Big O,” where physicality and dominance in the paint — what some call “bully ball” — defined offensive strategies. Robertson’s emphasis on individual play and physical scoring reflected the norms of his time
Steph deserves more
Robertson knew Curry was a unique player when he made the comments in 2016. The 6’3″ Golden State Warriors standout deserved all the praise during the 2015/16 season because he led the team that went 73-9 in the regular season.
His dominance placed him on the same pedestal as the sport’s biggest names and in the consideration for the best point guard ever. Now eight years after “Big O’s” comments, his resume speaks for itself, and there are no chinks in his armor.
Oscar might disagree with the direction the NBA took with three-point shooting, but he can never deny that Steph deserved the acclaim for what he did for the Warriors in the 2015 title run. And with what he has done since Golden State is the last NBA dynasty Curry was the main reason for it.
