Steph Curry 'Annoyed' With Hall of Fame Critics Casting Doubt on His Success
With the NBA's 3-point record and a team on its way to break a record for single season victories, Steph Curry is annoyed that he is being criticized by NBA veterans.
The 27-year-old Golden State Warriors point guard has been making headlines for his long range shot that continues to dominate the league. However, NBA legends like Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have questioned if Curry would be so successful in their era when defense dominated.
Other retired stars have also chimed in to agree with the sentiments, including retired players Stephen Jackson and Cedric Ceballos, who all indirectly stated that Curry faces less challenge in today's league. Curry does not appreciate the criticism.
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"It's starting to get a little annoying just because it's kind of unwarranted from across the board," Curry said on the "Warriors Plus/Minus" podcast, according to ESPN. "We have a very competent group, and we have fun when we're out there on the floor, and it shows, obviously. For the most part, you don't hear us talking about, you know, comparing ourselves to other great teams and 'We could beat this team, we're better than this team.'"
The latest NBA legend to criticize Curry is Hall of Famer Walt Frazier, who believes Curry's level of success is due to a 3-point shot that was non-existant for most of the years he played in the league. More than that, Frazier does not believe Curry's level of success will last.
"He's having a phenomenal season...but is he going to do this for the next five years? I don't really think so," Frazier told ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike on Thursday. "This is what he's doing now. Maybe they won't be able to stop him this year, but they'll have to find a way to contain this guy like they've done to Kobe (Bryant), like they're doing to LeBron (James), like they've done with all of the other superstars in the league."
Steph Kerr, the Warriors coach, has defended Curry against his doubters.
"A player from any era would be unable to guard Steph Curry. It doesn't matter who you're talking about. No one could guard Steph Curry," Kerr said. "The game was different then. ... There's more ball movement, there's more liked-sized players on the court. So things change, but I just can't see how anybody would think that Steph would have been guardable 30 years ago, 20 years ago, whatever."
The Warriors point guard who was named the league's MVP last season, is no stranger to people doubting his abilities. In a video for the CoachUp service that provides athletes with private coaching opportunities to help people improve in over 30 sports, Curry read from a negative 2009 NBA draft scouting report questioning his abilities.
"Stephen's explosiveness and athleticism are below standard. He is not a great finisher around the basket," Curry read from the report. "He needs to considerably improve as a ball handler (and) often struggles against physical defenders. Stephen must develop as a point guard in order to make it in the league. He will have limited success at the next level. Do not rely on him to run your team."
Although Curry managed to make a name for himself in the league, the CoachUp website revealed that he has been overlooked multiple times throughout his career.
"MVP and World Champion, Stephen Curry was overlooked coming out of high school, and undervalued on his way to the NBA. Draft reports challenged his athleticism, ball handling, and leadership," according to the CoachUp website. "Doubted at every level, Stephen silenced the skeptics by becoming an elite point guard, and one of the league's best players."
