Stephen Curry’s greatness is unquestioned. He’s revolutionized basketball with his deep shooting and dazzling handles, changed the geometry of NBA defenses, and brought Golden State four championships.
Yet, even a player of his stature isn’t immune to an off night—and lately, they’ve been a bit more frequent than fans are used to. In fact, Curry now has nine single-digit scoring games over the last three seasons, a shocking stat when you compare it to LeBron James, who has had only eight such games in his entire 22-year career.
That stat has stunned NBA fans and stirred up heated discussions online, especially after Curry’s brutal showing in the Warriors’ 106-96 loss to the Houston Rockets. Curry finished with just 3 points on 1-of-10 shooting, his second game this season with fewer than 10 points, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time as the Warriors continue fighting for playoff seeding in a tight Western Conference.
While LeBron James extended his legendary streak of 1,289 consecutive games scoring in double digits—the longest such run in NBA history—Curry’s inconsistency has begun to raise eyebrows.
This isn’t to say he isn’t still a superstar. Just last week, Curry was averaging over 40 points per game in a stretch that included a 50-point eruption. But the volatility in his production is becoming harder to ignore.
Curry’s scoring dips have often come against elite, switch-heavy defenses that deny him space and smother him at the point of attack. Against Houston, Amen Thompson was the defensive architect.
The second-year Rocket hounded Curry all game, denying airspace and forcing rushed shots and turnovers. Social media lit up with jokes and memes, many praising Amen for playing defense on Curry like it was Game 7 of the Finals.
There’s a growing sentiment that Curry’s bad games don’t get the same scrutiny as LeBron’s rare off nights, and this stat only fuels that narrative. Nine single-digit games in three years versus LeBron’s eight in two decades puts into perspective the consistency, durability, and floor that James brings every single night.
For Curry, it’s not time to panic—he’s still a top-tier offensive weapon. But these lows are becoming harder to ignore, especially when they come at critical points in the season. With the Warriors now tied in the standings with the Clippers, Timberwolves, and Grizzlies for seeds 5 through 8, they can’t afford many more off nights from their superstar.
And while one bad game doesn’t define Curry, the comparison to LeBron’s unbreakable double-digit scoring streak is a stark reminder: true greatness isn’t just about how high your peaks go—it’s about how rarely you fall.
