With LeBron James choosing to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Golden State Warriors have emerged as one of the biggest losers of this offseason. The Warriors haven’t made any additions in free agency and aren’t even close to being a title contender now.
All of this has many wondering whether Stephen Curry’s final years with the Warriors will be bleak, but Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal said on the Stephen A. Smith Show that his legacy is already cemented.
“Steph Curry’s legacy is already complete,” O’Neal said. “… You know why it’s complete? Because while everybody was talking about LeBron being No. 1 or No. 2, this little light-skinned kid dominated in LeBron’s era and he beat LeBron. And if I’m mistaken, doesn’t he have one more ring? More than LeBron?”
Host Stephen A. Smith informed O’Neal that they both actually have four rings, but he stood by what he said.
Now, saying Curry dominated in James’ era might be a stretch. He did manage to beat him, however.
Curry’s Warriors and James’ Cleveland Cavaliers faced off in the NBA Finals in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The Cavaliers famously overturned a 3-1 deficit to win in 2016, but that was the only time they emerged victorious. Curry and the Warriors won in six games in 2015, five in 2017, and four in 2018.
James’ supporters would be quick to point out the circumstances, though. In 2015, his co-stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were injured. Then in 2017 and 2018, the Warriors had a certain Kevin Durant by their side to tip the scales in their favor. Durant was the one who won Finals MVP in those two years, not Curry.
There would be no James-Curry matchup in the playoffs for a while after 2018, but the rivals finally met again in 2023. James was on the Los Angeles Lakers by then and was facing the Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals. Curry had just led his team to the title in 2022, but the Lakers would end his hopes of defending the crown. The Warriors lost in six games, and they haven’t come close to winning it all since.
Despite that series loss, Curry does lead the playoff head-to-head 3-2 against James. It’s unlikely we’ll ever see them face off in the postseason again, considering the Warriors’ current state.
While Curry will likely have those bragging rights, there is no real argument for him being greater than James. The 12-time All-Star is definitely the second-best player of his generation, though. What Curry has accomplished is remarkable, and O’Neal has turned into one of his biggest admirers.
“Look at this little kid,” O’Neal said. “Cabbage patch doll, cute little kid that you could take home and babysit him. Dude has four rings. He’s a great player. It’s unfortunate that Bob Myers left and they’re not really operating like they used to operate. You asked a question where I thought LeBron would have went. I actually thought he was going to go to Golden State, too.
“But listen Steph, he’s just going to keep shooting it out,” O’Neal added. “He’s probably going to pass me in scoring, and when it’s all said and done, one of the greatest shooters ever. But I’ve always said, how come you don’t put him in the GOAT category?”
O’Neal has demanded in the past that fans include Curry in the GOAT conversation. He isn’t calling him the greatest, but wants to see his name mentioned.
O’Neal has also called Curry his favorite NBA player. He is amazed by how this 6’2″ guard has been able to dominate against these giants for so long.
Curry shone last season, too, as he averaged 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in 2025-26. You’d want to see him compete in those high-pressure moments, but the Warriors have acknowledged they’re not in the title conversation. Curry isn’t going to ask out either, so it doesn’t look like the end of his career is going to be all too glamorous.
