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Is Stephen Curry Better than Kobe Bryant Was?

By Carlos Murillo

November 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 111-77. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 111-77. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Stephen Curry is on his way to being an all-time great player. Is he already better than the legendary Kobe Bryant?

Kobe Bryant is one of the best players to step on an NBA court.

His career accomplishments and accolades are almost unparalleled in NBA history. He’s a five-time champion, eighteen-time All-Star, and league MVP. His legacy and impact have been felt for years now, as young players come up and cite the Black Mamba as a source of inspiration for them. Watching Bryant win titles and get bucket after bucket on the national stage has made the world very fond of the Laker. Even fans that don’t like him for whatever reason respect what he’s done.

But how good was he at his best? He’s one of the greatest scorers to pick up a basketball and, in his prime, was an elite defender, but perhaps Bryant wasn’t as good as we might be led to believe.

Stephen Curry, right now, is the best player in basketball. He was the best player last year when he won his first Most Valuable Player award and championship. He sends defenses into panic mode when he has just an inch of space. Curry followed his historic season with a breakout season this year. We’re no longer watching one of the best in just today’s game, we’re witnessing one of the game’s all-time greats.

Bryant is retiring after his season while Curry is entering the prime of his career. It’s hard to gauge just how great the Warriors’ point guard will be because his prime is just starting. And Bryant has played a full career so, naturally, his list of accomplishments are going to be significantly longer.

Putting awards and team selections to the side, is Steph Curry better than Kobe Bryant ever was?

While many will probably think this is blasphemous, it’s not that much of a stretch. Bryant is a fan-favorite. He’s given basketball plenty of memorable performances that have won him fans all over the globe. But this is a sport, more than any other, obsessed with winning and he has a lot of jewelry. Narratives built and maintained by his ardent fan base have possibly overrated Bryant’s abilities.

Click ahead to see side-by-side comparisons.

Next: A Career Overview

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