Steve Francis, one of the most electrifying guards of his era, is never shy about speaking his mind when it comes to basketball debates. On The Bubba Dub Show, the former All-Star gave his take on the age-old GOAT conversation and his own personal top 10 players list. His comments added fuel to the ongoing debates, particularly with how he placed Stephen Curry above Kevin Durant.
When asked about who he considers the greatest player of all time, Francis didn’t hesitate.
“So, all them dunks and moves, like ain’t no way nobody’s father or even younger ain’t never see Come Fly With Me. So growing up seeing that, growing up looking at Want to Be Like Mike, and him being able to conquer the Detroit Pistons.”
“I grew to know why Mark Aguirre was so, ’cause he coached me with the Knicks. So he told me what they was doing, their plan to try to assassinate anything Jordan did.”
For Francis, Michael Jordan’s ability to overcome the “Bad Boys” Pistons in the late 1980s and early 1990s cemented his place as the GOAT. He even brought up a personal connection to Mark Aguirre, a former Pistons forward who later coached him with the Knicks.
Hearing Aguirre break down the Pistons’ infamous “Jordan Rules” only deepened Francis’ appreciation for what Jordan accomplished. To him, surviving that physical gauntlet and still leading the Bulls to six championships separates MJ from everyone else.
But the conversation didn’t end there. Francis then shifted to his all-time top 10 list, which included a hot take: Stephen Curry ahead of Kevin Durant.
“Curry seven, I don’t know who else. Seventh. He in the top 10… He behind Steph, KD in the top 10,” Francis said, clarifying that while both are in his top 10, Curry edges Durant.
The statement is bound to spark debate. Durant has two Finals MVPs, an MVP award, and is regarded as one of the most complete scorers in NBA history. Curry, meanwhile, is widely credited with changing the game of basketball through his shooting, spacing, and the way defenses are forced to guard him.
Francis clearly values Curry’s transformative impact, putting him ahead of Durant despite KD’s gaudier individual accolades.
It’s a take that echoes a growing sentiment in NBA circles: Curry’s influence on the game may ultimately outweigh Durant’s individual brilliance. The Warriors guard didn’t just dominate; he altered how basketball is played at every level, from AAU to the pros.
For Francis, Jordan remains untouchable at No. 1. But his list also reveals how much he values players who shift the culture of the game, not just rack up stats. Curry gets that nod over Durant because of his long-lasting impact on how the NBA looks today.
Whether fans agree with Francis or not, his rankings guarantee one thing: the GOAT debate, and the top-10 lists that come with it, will never stop stirring conversations.
