Throughout their history, the Golden State Warriors have had some incredible players grace their team. However, without a doubt, Steph Curry reigns supreme as the best player to ever don the royal blue and yellow jersey. With 15 years under his belt playing for the Warriors, it seems unlikely that anyone will surpass him as the greatest player in their franchise history. There are five key reasons why Curry’s legacy is secure as the Warriors’ greatest of all time.
#1. Tremendous Team Accomplishments
Steph Curry played a pivotal role in Golden State Warriors’ “golden era,” leading them to six finals appearances, an impressive five of which were consecutive from 2015 to 2019. With his significant contribution to the team, they clinched four titles (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022), with ‘Chef Curry’ featuring prominently in their 34 Finals games, boasting an average of 27.3 points, six assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. Although he only won one final MVP award (2022), there is no denying that Curry’s presence elevated the team’s chances of winning a championship.
#2. Top Scorer in Warriors’ History
Steph Curry has secured the title of the all-time leading scorer for the Golden State Warriors, adding yet another feather to his illustrious cap. His outstanding performances on the court and relentless pursuit of excellence have enabled him to achieve this significant milestone in his career.
Steph Curry currently holds the record for most points scored in Warriors history, with a whopping 22,158 and counting. This places him ahead of other legendary Hall-of-Famers such as Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Paul Arizin, and Chris Mullin. As the only active player who could potentially challenge Curry for this title in the foreseeable future, Klay Thompson trails behind with 14,396 points. However, since he is still approximately 8,000 points away and at the age of 33, it remains uncertain whether Thompson will be able to surpass his All-Star teammate. Additionally, Curry also tops other significant statistics for the Warriors.
Aside from his impressive scoring record, Steph Curry also holds the top spot in several other key statistics for the Golden State Warriors franchise. These include games played, minutes played, three-point field goals, assists, and steals, which are a testament to his remarkable tenure with the team. Recently, he surpassed Chris Mullin in games played and Nate Thurmond in minutes played, with 897 games and 30,797 minutes under his belt. Moreover, he is the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made, with 3,470 compared to the second-place holder Klay Thompson’s 2,257. In terms of assists, he leads the franchise with 5,799, followed by Guy Rodgers with 4,855. Although Draymond Green trails behind him with 4,284 assists, he still has a considerable distance to catch up. Similarly, Curry dominates in steals with 1,431, with Green being the closest contender at 1,035. Lastly, he holds the distinction of being the longest-tenured player in Warriors history.
Steph Curry holds the record for being the only player in the history of the Golden State team to have played continuously for 15 years, making him the player with the longest tenure. It is not a coincidence that he has lasted so long with the team because he has been an integral part of the Warriors since the very beginning until now, and will continue to be so in the upcoming years. Additionally, he can arguably be considered the most popular player in the history of the Warriors, as he leads the team in many important all-time statistics.
Although the Warriors have boasted some incredible players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Run TMC (Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond), Baron Davis and the “We Believe” crew, none of them have achieved the level of fame that Curry has in his career. Curry’s popularity is not limited to just the Bay Area, as he has a large following wherever he plays. One indicator of his massive fan base is the fact that his jersey remains one of the top-selling jerseys in league history, with sales leading for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018. When it comes to all-time jersey sales, he sits at sixth place after Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.