The National Basketball Association is littered talent and ultimately can be defined as a super star driven league. Lebron James, James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis (just to name a few) are superpowers in the league who have mastered all facets of the game. However, among this talent, it is valid to say that Steph Curry may be the most unguardable player in the NBA. Here are some of the reasons why Steph Curry is virtually unstoppable, and one of the best players of our generation.
“Steph Curry range.”
We’ve seen some remarkable shooters throughout NBA history, specifically with the 3 ball, such as Ray Allen and Reggie Miller. However, Curry in his career has redefined the term “high percentage shot.” He holds multiple 3 point shooting records — such as the NBA 3 point field goal leader (2013–2017), most three pointers in a regular season game (13), NBA record for most consecutive games with a three pointer (153), and many more. Curry has been known to pull up from 30+ feet and still hit at an incredible rate. When this guy spots up from the logo, there is not much a defender can do to stop that.
The Drive.
Ok, say you do guard Curry wherever he spots up — even if that’s a mile away. One of the best parts of his game is his speed and drive to the basket. Not only must you acknowledge Curry’s sharpshooting, but you also have to recognize that he is one of the best scorers around the basket. For example, he earned a 1.28 points per drive average in the 2017–2018 campaign — which only ranks behind or tied with players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, and Lebron James. So guard him all you want from the perimeter, but you should know he will drive, and odds are he will finish.
Pump Fake.
Steph Curry’s success on the drive is mainly attributed to his pump fake. You have to respect his jumper, so defenders overcommit whenever he sets himself up for a shot — or seems to. A simple pump fake draws a defender and opens a lane to the hole for Curry. If you guard the perimeter, he makes you look silly with a pump fake. If you guard the paint, he will make you pay from deep. It’s simply unstoppable.
Off ball movement.
Steph Curry is known for his shooting, passing, ball handling, etc. However, he should really be praised for his off ball movement. In fact, he is constantly in the top 10 of distance run by players in the NBA. His movement facilitates play for his teammates and allows himself to get open also. He’s in incredible shape, and the constant motion of his game wears and tears on defenders. He creates chaos on the defensive side, and fluidity on the offensive side.
