Stephen A's Take: No doubt! Steph Curry is the Greatest Shooter of All-Time! - The Stephen A. Smith Show

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Stephen A. Smith Show Episode: Stephen A's Take: No doubt! Steph Curry is the Greatest Shooter of All-Time! Release Date: March 15, 2025

Overview

In this passionate and in-depth episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith joins guest Peter Tilden to celebrate and analyze the illustrious career of NBA superstar Steph Curry. With Curry turning 37 and recently achieving his 4,000th three-point shot, the discussion centers on his undeniable status as the greatest shooter in basketball history and his rightful place in the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) conversations.

Key Discussions

1. Celebrating Steph Curry's Milestones

Peter Tilden kicks off the episode by highlighting Curry's significant achievements:

Milestone Birthday: Steph Curry turns 37, marking a remarkable longevity in his career.

"Steph just turned 37. Today is, I started off three seasons ago he had reached the 3,000 career mark on three pointers." [01:02]
Three-Point Records: Curry surpassed Ray Allen’s record of 2,973 three-pointers in December 2021 and has since added over 1,000 more, bringing his total to 4,000.
Season Performance: Averaging 11.23 three-point attempts per game with a success rate just under 40%, Curry continues to defy age-related performance declines.

2. Steph Curry's Unmatched Shooting Prowess

Tilden delves into the nuances of Curry's shooting abilities:

Volume and Accuracy: With 873 more three-pointers than any player in NBA history, Curry's shooting volume is unparalleled.

"He is the greatest shooter God has ever created." [01:30]
Versatility: Curry's ability to create his own shot from various distances and off the dribble sets him apart from his peers.
Impact on the Game: Defenders are perpetually on alert, adjusting their strategies to counter Curry’s relentless shooting, which alters the dynamics of entire games.

"Every defense has to keep its collective head on a swivel trying to find where he is at all times because he can pull up from anywhere." [02:45]

3. Comparing Curry to NBA Legends

The conversation shifts to placing Curry among the all-time greats:

Resume Comparison: Curry's accolades include four NBA championships, two MVP awards, eleven All-Star selections, two Scoring Championships, and an Olympic gold medal.
GOAT Discussion:
- Magic Johnson: Tilden appreciates Magic's five championships and tactical genius as a point guard but emphasizes Curry's transformative impact.
- LeBron James & Michael Jordan: While acknowledging their greatness, Tilden argues that Curry's unique skill set warrants his inclusion in the top-tier discussions.
"If we're going to talk about Kobe top five and we going to talk about the Tim Duncan of the world top five, how would he summarily dismiss the notion of Steph Curry being in that conversation? Definitely top 10." [07:15]

4. Curry’s Holistic Impact on Basketball

Beyond shooting, Tilden explores Curry’s overall influence:

Ball Handling: Curry’s exceptional dribbling allows him to navigate defenses effortlessly, creating scoring opportunities for himself and teammates.
Conditioning and Longevity: Maintaining peak physical condition at 37, Curry continues to deliver high-performance games, such as averaging over 30 points following Jimmy Butler’s arrival.
Defensive Considerations: While not primarily known for his defense, Curry’s offensive dominance compels opponents to allocate significant resources to contain him.

5. The Broader Implications of Curry’s Legacy

Tilden discusses how Curry’s success has reshaped basketball strategies and youth training:

Evolution of the Game: Curry has influenced the NBA's emphasis on three-point shooting, altering team compositions and coaching strategies.
Inspiring the Next Generation: Young athletes look up to Curry’s work ethic and shooting mechanics, aspiring to emulate his success.

6. Concluding Salute to Steph Curry

Peter Tilden wraps up the discussion with heartfelt praise:

"It's just special salute on his 37th birthday. We can give him nothing but praise. He is that phenomenal." [09:00]

Final Assertions: Tilden firmly asserts that Curry not only deserves a spot in GOAT conversations but also challenges listeners to reconsider existing rankings to accommodate Curry’s extraordinary contributions.

"He warrants a legitimate discussion because it's undeniable that he now belongs in the conversation if we're able to call him the greatest shooter God has ever created." [09:45]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

"Steph just turned 37. Today is, I started off three seasons ago he had reached the 3,000 career mark on three pointers." [01:02]
"He is the greatest shooter God has ever created." [01:30]
"Every defense has to keep its collective head on a swivel trying to find where he is at all times because he can pull up from anywhere." [02:45]
"He's that great. He's that spectacular. We got to give it to him." [05:30]
"Who do you take out? Do you take out Duncan? Take out Bird? Take out Kobe? [...] we gotta ask ourselves these questions." [07:15]
"He warrants a legitimate discussion because it's undeniable that he now belongs in the conversation if we're able to call him the greatest shooter God has ever created." [09:45]

Conclusion

This episode serves as a comprehensive tribute to Steph Curry, meticulously detailing his achievements, skill set, and profound impact on the game of basketball. Through compelling arguments and insightful comparisons, Peter Tilden effectively positions Curry not just as the greatest shooter of all time but also as a transformative figure deserving of a place among basketball’s all-time greats. For listeners, especially those unfamiliar with Curry’s full legacy, this discussion provides a compelling case for his enduring greatness and lasting influence on the sport.

Transcript

Jason Alexander (0:00)

On the podcast. Really know. Really? Join best friends Jason Alexander and Peter Tilden along with experts, newsmakers and celebrities in a search for answers to life's most baffling, intriguing and annoying questions. You know those things that make you go really? No really.

Peter Tilden (0:15)

I think There was a 17 year old in Rhode island who ran a candidate that was a deep fake. Really?

Ryan Seacrest (0:21)

Wait, wait, that's news to me.

Peter Tilden (0:22)

That's really no really right there.

Jason Alexander (0:24)

Really no, really listen to really no really on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Ryan Seacrest (0:30)

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Peter Tilden (1:02)

I want to get into the NBA and the history we saw last night in San Francisco. That's where the one and only Steph Curry Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy Birthday. No, I'm not a singer, but he did turn 37 years of age today and the night before. As in last night he made his 4,000th three point shot. So let's put the smile tone into this proper perspective please. You may recall that Steph broke the NBA's all time three point shooting record three years ago when he passed Ray Allen's mark of 2,973 back in December of 2021. Steph has since made more than 1,000 threes and he's still going. Ladies and gentlemen, he just turned 37. Today is I started off three seasons ago he had reached the 3,000 career mark on three pointers. He's averaging 11.23 point attempts per game this year, making 4.43 pointers per game. Right? And those attempts are second to LaMelo Ball. And also Steph is shooting a hair under 40% from three for the season. Some people have said the real question is can. Can Steph Curry reach 5,000 and three pointers? Let's put this in this proper perspective first, okay? Do y'all understand that right now Steph Curry is 873? He has 873 more three pointers than any play in NBA history. James Harden II you see his resume right there. Four time champion, two time MVP, 10 time all star, all NBA first team four times 11 time NBA all star, two all star game MVPs. Two time NBA scoring champion, NBA 75th anniversary team, Olympic gold medalist in 2024. The resume is impeccable. It's other, otherworldly. We all know this, okay? But with 873 more three pointers than any player in NBA history. Second is James Harden. Let's not forget that his three point percentage shooting 42.4%, third all time with a minimum of 2,500 attempts. Free throw percentage shooting 91.1%. That's the best in NBA history. And his true shooting percentage is eighth all time at 62 and a half percent. The brother is on another level. He's one of seven players in NBA history with at least four championships and two league MVP awards. Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul Jabbal, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan and LeBron James are the other six. All right, that's who we're talking about when we talk about Steph Curry. So when I bring all of that up to you and I throw out that resume, I have a very, very, very simple question. A. Does he belong in a goat conversation? Yes. That's not saying he's the goat. That means when you mention the goat or you have a conversation about the goat, you do need to consider the greatest shooter God has ever created. Who's a four time champion and a two time league mvp. An NBA Finals mvp, a gold medalist. You kind of need to think about these things. And one of the things that was sacrilegious in a lot of people's eyes is when I brought up, is he the greatest point guard ever? Now my man Eddie Johnson on NBA radio and others was like, that's just sacrilegious. Magic Johnson is the greatest point guard we've ever seen. John Stockton, Isaiah Thomas, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton and others. Chris Paul, the. The point God himself, CP3, they're all up there. I'm not talking about quintessential prototypical point guards. That's not what I'm saying, ladies and gentlemen. I'm saying if you look at Magic Johnson, let's take into account Magic Johnson, who's five, five championships, okay? Five championships, nine NBA Finals appearances. We get that part right. Here's what I want y'all to think about. I'm not talking quintessential, prototypical point guard. That's setting up others. That's not what I mean with Steph Curry. I'm talking about impact on an offense. Magic Johnson, six, nine, with, with, with, with, with. Three eyes, for crying out loud. One in the back of his head, two in the front. Okay? With a sixth sense about him. Just a sublime point guard. Affected the game in a myriad of ways that led to championships. Well, what the hell has Steph Curry done? Steph Curry has had people in the hospital receiving oxygen because as JR Smith once told Matthew Delvedova almost died chasing Steph Curry around all game long. Every defense has to keep its collective head on a swivel trying to find where he is at all times because he can pull up from anywhere. His conditioning is top notch compared to anybody at age 36. He just dropped 56 a couple of weeks ago. He's been averaging over 30 since Jimmy Butler arrived. And by the way, with all of that being said, he is the only player in NBA history that you literally have to man up in. God, the second he steps past half court, that is how lethal the great Steph Curry is and has been. It is who he is. He's that phenomenal. He's that great. So again, Magic Johnson doing what he does impact compared to Steph Curry doing what he does impact. What would you rather have? It's a legitimate question. LeBron James, my number two all time. MJ, my number one. Because MJ at his best, I believe, is the greatest I've ever seen in my life. And oh, by the way, ladies, not even bring Steph Curry into the category of him when it comes to defense. LeBron shows you what he can do, but he doesn't do it often enough defensively throughout his career. Which is another reason I got him number two. But he's still number two because we see what the Lakers look like without LeBron James at age 40 in his 22nd season. No doubt about it. And needless to say, I'm just being showing my professionalism. I'm obviously in no mood to show him any kind of love. But we gotta be honest, I'm never gonna lie, the man is that phenomenal. Got him number two all time. But Shaq is right. We gotta look at Steph Curry a little differently, y'all. It can't just be. Well, he's just a great shooter and that's all there is. His movement without the basketball, his ball handling skills, his ability to create his own shot off the dribble from 10, 20, 30, 40, damn it. Sometimes 50 and 60ft. He's that great. He's that spectacular. We got to give it to him. And when we got to give it to him on that level. We got to ask ourselves, where do you put them? If we going to talk about Kobe top five and we going to talk about the Tim Duncan of the world top five, how would he summarily dismiss the notion of Steph Curry being in that conversation? Definitely top 10. And then if you don't say top 10, who do you take out of it? Who you take out? Do you take out Duncan? Take out Bird? Take out Kobe? Who you take out? Who you gonna take out? We gotta ask ourselves these questions, mind you. We gotta ask ourselves these questions. All I'm saying is he warrants a legitimate discussion because it's undeniable that he now belongs in the conversation if we're able to call him the greatest shooter God has ever created as a. I mean, if you're going to be in the goat conversation, don't you have to be the goat in something? He's the goat when it comes to shooting. I know about the resume of Kareem Abdul Jabba. I know about the 11 championships in 13 years from Bill Russell. I know about how rules had to be changed because of the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain even though he only had two titles. I know Tim Duncan's the greatest powerful that ever lived. Giannis at some point is going to belong in the conversation. In a lot of people's eyes, Steph Curry, man, it's just special salute on his 37th birthday. We can give him nothing but praise. He is that phenomenal. He truly, truly is. Happy birthday, my brother, and congratulations to you.