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Has Stephen Curry Surpassed LeBron James in Popularity?

By Michael Shultz

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For years, there has been no doubt who the most popular player in the NBA is: LeBron James.

Ever since he first came into the league, fans absolutely adored him because he was playing in his hometown and looked like the second coming of Michael Jordan. He turned the Cleveland Cavaliers, a terrible team before he arrived, into a perennial playoff team. He never won a championship in Cleveland, so he took “his talents to South Beach” in a highly-publicized one-hour television special to join Dwyane Wade Wade and the Miami Heat.

He was hated for “The Decision” but his popularity returned after he won a couple of championships and made four straight Finals appearances. His popularity grew even more when he returned to Cleveland last year in order to bring a championship to his home state. The four-time MVP was as desired as ever and why he was nicknamed “King James”.

Meanwhile, a star from the West Coast was emerging as well but did not have nearly the accolades that James had acquired. This star was Stephen Curry, and he made his mark in the 2012-2013 postseason when he lit up the Denver Nuggets, leading to an upset victory for the Golden State Warriors. From there, his popularity skyrocketed into what he is today. 

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    • Curry may be the most dynamic player in the league and his fans have noticed, becoming the leading vote-getter for this year’s All-Star game in New York. But with all the success Curry has had, has he surpassed James as the most popular player in the NBA? It may be closer than you think.

    Curry is on the best team in the league and he is undoubtedly the best player on the Warriors. He is an unbelievable shooter, skilled passer and may have the best handles in the league. He has been a clutch performer on the biggest stage, the NBA postseason, and could very well be the MVP this season. He is averaging over 23 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out eight assists per game. His numbers are incredible to begin with, but it is the way he does it which makes him so special.

    Dec 7, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) dribble the ball against Memphis Grizzlies point guard Jerryd Bayless (7) during the third quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

    Most great shooters are of the “catch and shoot” variety like Kyle Korver, Klay Thompson, J.J. Redick, but Curry can shoot the ball as just as well off the bounce as he can on a catch and shoot. When he does shoot off the dribble, it is not your “garden variety two dribbles and it is going up.” Most of the time, Curry is crossing up his defender, hitting a three in his face, making his opponent look helpless.

    When Curry is not performing on the floor, he is excelling on the silver screen. Curry has garnered endorsements from Under Armour, Degree, State Farm, Express, Muscle Milk and appeared in countless other NBA commercials in the past two years. He is almost on television as much as James, who has his own endorsements with Samsung, Kia, Nike, Beats By Dre and many others.

    All of this has happened because his style of play and success of his team. You would not see Curry in commercial with Jamie Foxx if his team was struggling to make the postseason. Most players that you see endorsing products have won championships or are on elite teams — it is just the nature of the business. If the Warriors continue to keep winning, Curry aka “The Baby Faced Assassin” will receive more endorsements and become even more popular.

    He has received all these endorsements because of the person he has become. At first glance, Curry does not look or act like your prototypical basketball player. He does not have huge muscles or glaring tattoos. He is not selfish or greedy. Instead, he is a humble guy, small in stature and a family man: three things you wouldn’t necessarily say about James.

    He is constantly shooting videos with his wife, Ayesha and their little girl, Riley, promoting his wife’s olive oil business and cooking prowess. He also attended the Warriors’ D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz to check out his brother, Seth when he played in Santa Cruz. On top of all of that, Curry is very charitable, advocating for Nothing But Nets, a campaign to raise awareness to fight malaria in African nations.

    Curry is not as popular as James to the general public, but to basketball fans, he may be the guy in the NBA.

    The NBA has evolved over the years from a league dominated by big men to now a league dominated by the three-point shot and Curry is the best going right now. James is not a great shooter, but he does everything else better than anyone else.

    On Thursday night, we will see the two stars collide in a possible NBA Finals preview on national television, and the country will see the two most popular players in the league.

    Next: Warriors Hope Stephen Curry is not the Next Derrick Rose

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