Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and his father, former NBA player Dell Curry, recently shared their top five players from their respective eras on their new podcast, ‘Heat Check with Stephen and Dell Curry’, which is now available on Audible. The discussion provided insights into who they believe are the greatest players of their eras.
Dell Curry: “We need top 5 players from your era.”
Stephen Curry: “I’ma go from basically from 2009 to right now, we got Bron, KD, Kawhi. I know every time you do this you’re gonna miss somebody and people will say, ‘Oh my God, he left him off the list? What was he thinking?”
“This guy doesn’t know basketball,… I got obviously myself… There’s like a group of four, I’m picking from right now… I’m gonna say James.”
Dell Curry: “I got MJ, Magic, Bird, Shaq… Then the last one, it’s tough, I’m going with Olajuwon.”
For Stephen Curry, who has been a dominant force in the NBA since his debut in 2009, the list included some of the most iconic players of the modern era. He named LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and himself as the top players.
He rounded out his list with James Harden, acknowledging the challenge of selecting just five players and the inevitable criticism such lists attract. Curry mentioned other players he considered, including Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and his Warriors teammate Klay Thompson.
Dell Curry, who played in the NBA from 1986 to 2002, offered his own top-five list, which included legends from his era. Dell’s list featured Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Like his son, Dell acknowledged the difficulty of narrowing down the choices and the potential for criticism but expressed confidence in his selections, stating that he’s “at an age where I don’t care who they think I’m leaving off.”
Both Currys’ lists reflect the players they believe have had the most significant impact on the game during their careers. Stephen’s choices highlight the modern era’s versatility and skill, while Dell’s selections emphasize the dominance and legacy of players from the late 20th century.
Their discussion offers a fascinating glimpse into the perspectives of two generations of basketball talent, each with its own set of challenges and standout performers.
Who Wins Between These Two Lineups?
When comparing these two lineups, it’s indeed a tough decision to make. On one side, we have the modern lineup featuring Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. On the other side, we have the legendary lineup consisting of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Point Guard: Stephen Curry vs. Magic Johnson
Curry is the greatest shooter in NBA history, capable of scoring from anywhere on the court and creating opportunities with his exceptional ball-handling. Magic, however, is a versatile playmaker with unmatched court vision and size advantage. Magic’s ability to control the game’s tempo and his defensive prowess give him an edge in this matchup.
Shooting Guard: James Harden vs. Michael Jordan
Harden is an elite scorer with a diverse offensive arsenal, but Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time. Jordan’s scoring, defensive intensity, and clutch performance in critical moments make him the clear winner in this matchup.
Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard vs. Larry Bird
Leonard is known for his two-way ability, excelling both offensively and defensively. Bird, however, is a sharpshooter and an all-around player with a high basketball IQ. This matchup is close, but Bird’s legendary status and versatility give him a slight edge.
Power Forward: LeBron James vs. Shaquille O’Neal
This is a tricky matchup since LeBron is more of a small forward but can play as a power forward due to his size and skill. Shaq’s sheer dominance in the paint and physicality would be challenging for LeBron to handle defensively.
Offensively, LeBron’s versatility and playmaking could exploit Shaq’s slower foot speed. This matchup is nearly a wash but leans towards LeBron.
Center: Kevin Durant vs. Hakeem Olajuwon
While Durant is not a traditional center, his height and skill set make him a formidable opponent. However, Olajuwon’s footwork, defensive skills, and post moves make him one of the best centers in NBA history. Hakeem’s ability to dominate both ends of the floor gives him the upper hand.
In a seven-game series, the older generation team would likely win 4-3. The modern lineup has incredible scoring and shooting from all positions, but the previous generation team has superior defense, size, and rebounding.
The combination of Jordan’s clutch gene, Magic’s playmaking, Bird’s versatility, Shaq’s dominance, and Olajuwon’s all-around game would ultimately be too much for the modern team to overcome.
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