Stephen Curry is widely regarded as the most influential player in Golden State Warriors history.
However, former Warriors star Monta Ellis recently offered a bold assessment of Curry’s storied tenure with Golden State, quickly drawing strong backlash.
Warriors Supporters Fire Back After Monta Ellis’ Bold Stephen Curry Admission
Since Curry joined the Warriors in 2009, the franchise has become one of the NBA’s defining examples of sustained success. Curry transformed himself from an undersized, injury-prone point guard into a superstar whose shooting ability and style of play revolutionized basketball.
Under Curry’s leadership, Golden State went from enduring a lengthy playoff drought to building one of the league’s all-time most dominant dynasties, winning four titles in six NBA Finals appearances. Unlike several superstars who have moved from team to team in search of better championship opportunities, Curry has remained loyal to the Warriors throughout his 17-year career.
While discussing his new role as general manager at Alcorn State on Friday, Ellis reflected on his NBA career and his time with Golden State. The former Warriors standout claimed that he could have achieved the same level of success in the Bay Area if he had been placed in Curry’s position and given the same championship-caliber roster.
“That’s what I dealt with. And people know that,” Ellis said. “Real people that know basketball and all that, they know that. They know the team that I was dealt with. If you switched me and Steph out with the team that won championships, it’d be the same thing.
“So, you’ve got to take the good with the bad, and that’s cool. It put me in a position to make money for me and my family. I ran with that.”
Monta Ellis says Warriors would’ve had same success if he replaced Steph 😳
Do you agree?
(via Myron Medcalf) pic.twitter.com/YxoOIDM5RP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 9, 2026
There is no denying that Ellis was a talented offensive player during his time with the Warriors. However, Golden State consistently struggled to reach the postseason during his tenure, making just one playoff appearance.
The Warriors eventually made a major gamble in 2012 by trading Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks. Moving Ellis out of Golden State opened the door for Curry to take complete control of the backcourt while also allowing the franchise to develop the eventual “Splash Brothers” partnership between Curry and Klay Thompson.
With Draymond Green later emerging as another crucial piece, Golden State ultimately built a late-2010s dynasty. Because of that history, Warriors supporters were not convinced by Ellis and strongly rejected the notion that he could have replicated Curry’s success under the same circumstances.
“Absolutely not,” one X user commented.
Absolutely not https://t.co/ENNqnTV1d5
— Jordan A. Hayles (@MR_STiXX) August 9, 2026
“I’m not mad, you need to be this delusional to even make it to the NBA, this is the same belief that got him there. He’s wrong tho, but I get where it comes from,” another wrote.
I’m not mad it, you need to be this delusional to even make it to the NBA, this is the same belief that got him there
He’s wrong tho, but I get where it comes from https://t.co/cH9yniOYRd
— Mindombs (@SirJordann) August 9, 2026
“It says a lot that this is the *least* ridiculous thing a washed-up former NBA player has said this week to get attention,” one observer added.
It says a lot that this is the *least* ridiculous thing a washed-up former NBA player has said this week to get attention. https://t.co/dxbYc2hTaZ
— Dr. Wes McKinzie (@WesMcKinzie) August 9, 2026
“He could be swapped in when KD was there but not the other ones,” another comment read.
He could be swapped in when KD was there but not the other ones https://t.co/RQMIJmoEDe
— Patrick ⭐️ (@Kaluakid11) August 9, 2026
“Alright, man, this is just a straight-up lie. I guess Monta is at the delusional former player age,” another bashed Ellis.
Alright man this is just a straight up lie
I guess Monta is at the delusional former player age https://t.co/MVOpwjPyLd— Shuttleworth Finn⁶🦦 (@finn_trae) August 9, 2026
“Cap. Monta Ellis was amazing, but Steph is a generational-level talent, he literally is the greatest shooter of alllllll time & he is one of the few players like Bron, Kobe, Michael that have single-handedly changed the game. He’s Seth Rollins to Bron’s Roman,” one user pushed back.
Cap. Monta Ellis was amazing, but Steph is a generational level talent, he literally is the greatest shooter of alllllll time & he is one of the few players like bron, Kobe, Michael that have single handedly changed the game. He’s Seth Rollins to Bron’s Roman
— anime (@anime_heropiece) August 9, 2026
Ellis remains a beloved figure in Golden State history and is remembered as an important bridge between the franchise’s difficult years and its golden era. However, Curry’s unique impact on the organization has made him virtually irreplaceable in the eyes of Warriors fans.
