In a striking turnaround, Stephen Curry has finally gained the upper hand over Michael Jordan. When talking about the Golden State Warriors talisman, most fans would confidently say he is a future Hall of Famer. Even five years ago, with three championship rings and two MVP trophies under his belt, many would have echoed this sentiment. However, Jordan had a different opinion.
In 2019, during an interview with NBC’s Craig Melvin, the basketball icon was asked about Curry’s merit in being recognized in the Hall of Fame. Jordan admitted: “Steph Curry is still a great player… But he’s not a Hall of Famer yet.” This was at a time when Curry had three titles to his name, three short of Jordan’s illustrious six. Perhaps that comment stuck in Curry’s mind, prompting him to respond with a bang.
In a recent matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, Curry not only led his team to a convincing 139-105 victory, but he also surpassed Jordan in a remarkable statistical accomplishment. By scoring 30 points, he recorded his 40th career game with at least 30 points after age 35, surpassing Jordan’s total.
Interestingly, this feat came at a time when the Warriors were struggling. Curry himself has faced challenges, most notably in a game against the Grizzlies in mid-December, where he only managed to score 2 points without a single made basket. However, his current performance against the 76ers was nothing short of spectacular, highlighted by impeccable 8-of-8 shooting from behind the arc, leaving defenders in awe. In fact, it seemed like the four-time NBA champion had to check his shooting hand, as he found it hard to believe the magic that was happening.
Additionally, Curry’s accomplishment on the floor also dissolved any lingering tension with Jordan. In an earlier conversation with Matt Welty, Curry faced the criticism head on. When asked what he thought of Jordan’s comments, Curry responded: “I know I have more to prove to myself. When you hear a guy like that, who is the greatest in all the time, it’s a bit funny.” He added: “Since we’ve been on this stage, we’ve heard retired players criticize our era, saying their generation was superior.”
These thoughts resonate with similar sentiments Curry shared during the recent debate over greatest point guard, where he was matched up against none other than Magic Johnson. With both legends hanging in the balance, the NBA community is eagerly waiting to see if Curry will respond to Johnson’s recent remarks as well. Stay tuned for more updates as this saga unfolds.
