Golden State Warriors’ superstar and two-time MVP Stephen Curry was ranked the second-most dominant superstar of the decade.
There’s no denying the greatest of Stephen Curry. He’s single-handedly transformed not only the Golden State Warriors but the NBA at large. Like LeBron James, Curry’s dominance has spanned much of the decade.
However, unlike James, Curry hasn’t been at the top of his game throughout the entire 2010s. Curry’s ascension to superstardom really start during the 2012-2013 season and continued into his two MVP seasons that’d come in the next half a decade.
What makes Curry so dominant?
Well, like many would’ve guessed it’s his accurate shooting combined with his ultra-quick release. If you don’t jump, Curry’s going to splash it, and if you do, he’ll blow right past you. That’s what allowed the 31-year-old to average over 25 points per game for four straight seasons, topping out at 30.1 per game.
When recapping the decade, ESPN looked at which players have been the most dominant. Curry came in second with Durant at No. 3 and King James, who had been to eight-straight NBA Finals, No. 1.
Here’s how ESPN’s Kevin Pelton ended the portion of this article on Curry.
"Although we’ll look back on LeBron as the decade’s best player, Curry’s rise best symbolizes where the NBA appears headed as skill and speed gain favor over size and strength. While those trends had begun with rules changes in the previous decade, it took a player as singularly capable of exploiting them as Curry to open the league’s eyes to what now seems possible."
After being selected as a lottery pick to start the decade (No. 7 overall in 2009 NBA Draft), Curry joined a Warriors’ team that was stuck in purgatory, continually being a subpar performing organization. He changed that dynamic completely.
Three titles in five years and five straight Finals appearances is the run Curry’s Warriors are currently on. They join the old-school Boston Celtics as the only team to consecutive make five straight Finals.
However, it hasn’t just been Curry.
He couldn’t have led such a dominant team without some help. Insert three-time All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green and five-time All-Star Klay Thompson to the equation and you have the core that’s changed the NBA as we know it.