Debating the “Greatest Of All Time” (GOAT) is inherently subjective. If you grew up in the ’90s, your go-to response will be Michael Jordan. If you were born a decade later, it’s probably either Kobe Bryant or LeBron James. Each of these players transformed the game in their own right and certainly deserves all of the acclaim.
Stephen Curry, however, has carved out a niche of his own, and most would argue he deserves a seat at the table, not the least of which includes his teammate, Draymond Green.
Draymond Green’s Candid Remarks
On March 5, 2025, the basketball world was abuzz when Green and co-host Baron Davis delivered a statement on their popular podcast, “The Draymond Green Show With Baron Davis. ” The statement rippled through every corner of the NBA community.
In a passionate exchange about the legacy of NBA greats, Davis mentioned how NBA on TNT analyst and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal “demanded” fans start putting Curry in the GOAT conversation. To which host Green emphatically declared, “He 100% is in that conversation.”
“There is no one in the history of the NBA who has been guarded like Steph Curry… You tell me the game of basketball is modeled after how you play… You telling me that guy doesn't go in the GOAT conversation?"🐐
– Draymond Green
(via @DraymondShow)
pic.twitter.com/NfwHT6gH8A— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints)
“When you talk about what he does on the basketball court, with all due respect to LeBron James, with all due respect to Michael Jordan, there’s no one in the history of the NBA that has been schemed against and guarded the way Steph Curry is guarded,” Green said.
“I’ve played in the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers and got wide open layups, dunks in transition because he’s running on the wing and they’d rather go run and take away the three from him on the wing and give me a dunk. Still to this day, he’s in Year 16, teams still throw three or four defenders at him on any given possession.”
Green’s comments have sparked fervent debate among fans, analysts and former players, reigniting discussions over whether the sharpshooting maestro truly deserves a seat at the table with legends such as James, Jordan, and Bryant.
The Stephen Curry Revolution
Curry’s journey in the NBA has been nothing short of revolutionary. Entering the league as an unheralded guard, Curry transformed not only his own career trajectory but also the very fabric of professional basketball, as noted by Green on his podcast.
“Everything is designed to try and take this guy away. The way the game of basketball is played is because of Steph Curry,” Green said. “You tell me the game of basketball is modeled after how you played, you were so special that everybody thought, ‘Yo, that’s what we need to do,’ and you’re telling me THAT guy don’t go in the GOAT conversation?”
Known for his blistering quick release, unmatched range, and almost preternatural ability to knock down shots from anywhere on the court, Curry has shattered almost every long-standing shooting record imaginable. As the all-time leader in 3-pointers made Curry has rewritten how the modern NBA is played.
The thing is, he's good at everything. pic.twitter.com/oAMIM0GTCa
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols)
Before Curry’s arrival, the 3-point shot was often seen as a secondary weapon, with efficient post scoring and strong, fundamental play being more highly regarded. Today, it is the cornerstone of modern basketball, a change that teams across the league have wholeheartedly embraced.
Coaches now design plays to create open looks from beyond the arc, and defenses are retooled to double or even triple-team Curry in a bid to neutralize him. Moreover, now nearly every team is trying to replicate Curry’s long-range mastery, making the 3-point shot a ubiquitous part of the game.
Simply put, the modern NBA is unrecognizable compared to the league of previous decades, and Curry is largely responsible for that.
