Steph Curry
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Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors scored 48 points on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The debate around Stephen Curry has shifted again. This time, it didn’t come from a box score or a record book. It came from someone who shared the floor with legends.
On a recent episode of Run It Back, former NBA champion JR Smith didn’t hesitate when asked where Curry belongs historically.
Smith called Curry the greatest point guard of all time and said he believes the Golden State Warriors star will retire as a top-five player in NBA history.
Former All-Stars DeMarcus Cousins and Chandler Parsons immediately agreed.
That kind of consensus matters. Especially when it comes from players who competed directly against the league’s most dominant eras.
Why JR Smith’s Curry Take Carries Weight
Smith’s perspective isn’t theoretical. He played through the league’s stylistic shift, experienced Curry’s rise in real time, and watched defenses scramble to adapt.
Curry didn’t just excel within the system. He rewrote it.
Spacing changed. Shot selection changed. Defensive priorities changed. Entire roster constructions followed. What once felt reckless became standard practice, all because Curry made it efficient.
That’s why Smith’s claim lands differently than fan debate. It’s less about accolades and more about impact.
Curry didn’t chase the league’s trends. He created them.
Paul Pierce Pushed the Conversation Further on the Warriors Point Guard
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GettyFormer NBA champion Paul Pierce let loose on his thoughts between LeBron James and Steph Curry, and who he thinks is better between the two.
Smith isn’t alone in reframing the modern NBA hierarchy.
Recently, Paul Pierce reignited the debate on the No Fouls Given podcast, arguing that Curry, not LeBron James, should be viewed as the defining player of the era.
Pierce focused on two points he believes are unavoidable.
First, head-to-head results. Curry and LeBron met in four straight NBA Finals from 2015 through 2018. Golden State won three of them.
Second, historical rarity. Curry’s unanimous MVP season in 2015–16 remains unmatched. He received all 131 first-place votes while leading the Warriors to a 73-9 record, the best regular season in NBA history.
LeBron finished third in that voting.
To Pierce, that distinction matters.
If greatness is measured by dominance over peers and separation from the field, Curry’s resume looks different than anyone else’s in the modern era.
Fullcourtpass
Paul Pierce believes Steph Curry is best player of era
“How many times has Curry beat Bron in the finals? The man has a unanimous MVP while Bron was in his prime. Nobody is getting a unanimous MVP in the Jordan Era”
(Via @NFGShow, h/t @NBA__Courtside)
Why Context Matters More Than Ever for the Warriors Star
What gives these conversations added weight is timing.
Curry is 37. And he’s still producing nights that bend the league’s historical framework.
Just days ago in Portland, he poured in 48 points, passing Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games by a player over 30 years old. It was another milestone in a career full of them.
And yet, the Warriors lost.
That contrast has defined Golden State’s season. Curry continues to elevate himself. The standings remain stubborn.
The record books keep moving in his direction. The wins haven’t followed consistently.
Curry’s Greatness Isn’t the Question Anymore
Steph Curry
GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is still among the best players in the NBA.
JR Smith’s comment didn’t feel provocative. It felt observational. The league has already accepted Curry’s influence. The argument now centers on placement, not legitimacy.
Is he the greatest point guard ever? Many former players seem comfortable saying yes. Is he top five all-time? That debate will rage long after he retires.
What’s clear is this. Curry’s legacy isn’t being built in hindsight. It’s unfolding in real time, even as his team struggles to keep pace with his brilliance.
The Warriors are still searching for answers around him. History already found its conclusion.
Steph Curry didn’t just define an era. He reshaped the league that followed it.