In the sport of basketball, there are such moments that help can how the game is played. From Wilt’s 100 point game and length to Lebron’s iconic The Decision and still reign over the NBA, it’s moments like this that lead to basketball being as powerful as it is today. But with every new generation of basketball stars, there is always one that stands tall among a mountain of talent. There are GOATs and then there are game-changers. With the passing of last night, Stephen Curry has achieved both.
7 minutes, 33 seconds.
That’s all it took in Tuesday’s night matchup against the New York Knicks for Curry to cement his greatness. The point guard came off the right wing to drain a 28 footer to break Ray Allen’s all-time 3pt record. The Warriors called timeout to allow for their future Hall of Fame guard to take in the moment. No doubt the greatest shooter the NBA has ever seen, Stephen Curry continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the game.
“It was a beautiful ending to this last week,” Curry said after the game. “The buildup to getting this number, it was a special atmosphere. I knew the Garden would deliver just in terms of how iconic this place is — I can’t say it enough, I appreciate so much the way the fans embraced the moment with me and let me kind of get lost in it. I could feel it. Once I took the shot on the wing, it just felt good, looked good — it felt like we were at home.”
“It was a special moment, for sure, that I appreciate and I’ll remember for the rest of my life, in terms of what it means to me to pass Ray,” Curry added. “Him and Reggie (Miller), guys I’ve looked up to coming into the game. Definitely special.”
It’s because of Curry’s Hawkeye-level ability to rarely miss beyond the arc that has all 30 NBA teams following his methods. When Curry first appeared in the league, teams were attempting an average of 18 3 pointers per game. Since Curry’s game-changing ways, the average NBA team now attempts more than 29.1 3 pointers per game according to Shottracker.com. The sudden boom of 3s proved to be an efficient shot to help win games and allow for more playmaking.
Around the world, people are looking to Stephen Curry for how to excel in today’s NBA. Promising young guards are hard at work throwing caution to the wind and molding themselves into the sharpshooter.
What makes Stephen Curry such an unusual game changer from the likes of Lebron and MJ is his normal physical build. Doesn’t have a high jump like Dr. J or Wilt, built like Lebron. Curry is just a human who has put in his 10,000 hours and then some to perfect his shot. Anyone can shoot like Curry with a willful mind but not everyone can “Be like Mike.” There has even been talk of a 4 point line due to how comfortable people are from the line due to Curry.
Securing the win, Curry finished 5-of-14 from 3-point range, bringing his career total to 2,978. He had 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. The guard was embraced by his teammates and most of the Warriors staff including coach Steve Kerr, a former sharpshooter in his own right.
“Steph in the locker room was vintage Steph,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Joyful, grateful. He talked to the team about how much they mean to him. How much the game means to him, the process. He is who he is; that’s the beauty of Steph. He’s so authentic. He’s so genuine. I thought the night was perfect. It just pretty much encapsulated who he is, and his reaction to it was perfect.”
The rest of the world reacted to Stephen Curry’s record-breaking night on social media. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver offered his praise for Curry.
“It was thrilling to see Steph break the NBA’s all-time record for three-pointers,” Silver said. “He has revolutionized the way the game is played and continues to leave fans in awe with his amazing artistry and extraordinary shooting ability. We congratulate him on this historic achievement.”
The revolution of the 3pt shot remains one of the most important changes to the history of basketball. In an era of positionless basketball, players like Curry continue to hold weight in the land of giants. It shows sharpshooters can propel their team to new heights when all else fails.
