Shaquille O’Neal has officially demanded that NBA fans put Stephen Curry in the GOAT conversation alongside Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
The Hall of Famer made his bold proclamation on TNT following Curry’s 28-point performance in a Golden State Warriors win over the New York Knicks, emphasizing that the four-time champion and two-time MVP deserves his place among the all-time greats.
“As the supreme leader of the big man alliance, I demand you fans to start putting Steph Curry in that greatest of all time conversation. Just start putting him in the conversation. There’s Mike, there’s Kobe, there’s LeBron. Start putting Steph in that conversation. I demand it.”
“I played against Mike, played with Kobe, played against and with LeBron. They’re all great But at some point, we’re going to have to put Steph Curry in that category. I’m not saying he is, but let’s just have the conversation.”
“I like all the internet talk and the barbershop talk, but I ain’t never seen nothing like that before, and nobody has. And how many thangs he got? One, two, three, four, against LeBron. I demand that people start putting my guy in that conversation, period.”
O’Neal’s stance is significant given his firsthand experience playing against and with some of the greatest players in NBA history. He competed against Jordan, won three championships alongside Bryant, and played both with and against LeBron.
Now, Shaq believes Curry has reached a level that warrants discussion among those legends. He acknowledged that while Curry may not necessarily be the GOAT, he deserves to be in the conversation. His reasoning is simple—Curry has revolutionized the game in a way that no player before him has.
Curry’s case is backed by an extraordinary résumé. A four-time NBA champion, two-time regular-season MVP (including the only unanimous MVP in history), and the 2022 Finals MVP, his accolades rival those of any other all-time great. With 11 All-Star appearances, 10 All-NBA selections, and the title of the greatest shooter of all time, Curry has defined an era of basketball.
His deep three-point shooting, off-ball movement, and gravity have fundamentally changed the way the game is played, forcing defenses to extend beyond the arc and reshaping offensive strategies across the league.
At age 36, Curry is still proving why he belongs among the game’s elite. He is averaging 24.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 44.7% from the field and 39.8% from three-point range.
His production at this stage of his career is something only a handful of all-time greats—LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—have been able to maintain. His ability to perform at an elite level deep into his career speaks volumes about his longevity and conditioning.
The recent addition of Jimmy Butler seems to have revitalized Curry and the Warriors. Since Butler’s arrival, Golden State has climbed to the sixth seed in the Western Conference with a 34-28 record.
They are only three games behind the fifth seed, and with Curry leading the charge, they are determined to continue their push up the standings. His leadership and ability to take over games remain unmatched, and his hunger for another championship is evident.
Despite this, Curry has often been overlooked in the GOAT debate, mainly because of his unconventional playstyle. Historically, the conversation has been dominated by dominant scorers like Jordan and Bryant or all-around forces like LeBron.
Traditionalists often argue that Curry, as a “small” guard who relies heavily on perimeter shooting, doesn’t fit the mold of a typical GOAT candidate.
This viewpoint, however, ignores the massive impact Curry has had on winning. He has led the Warriors to four championships, including three against LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers, while also spearheading the most dominant regular-season team in NBA history—the 73-9 Warriors in 2016.
Critics have tried to diminish Curry’s greatness by labeling him as just a shooter, but that vastly undersells his impact.
His ability to break down defenses, finish at the rim, and elevate his teammates has made him one of the most unique superstars in history. More importantly, he has proven that a perimeter-oriented guard can be the driving force of a dynasty.
Shaq’s demand carries weight, and it’s time NBA fans acknowledge Curry’s rightful place in the GOAT debate. Whether he ultimately ranks above Jordan, LeBron, or Kobe is a subjective discussion, but his impact, influence, and winning pedigree make it undeniable—Stephen Curry belongs in the conversation.
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