In addition to his shooting, Curry is an excellent playmaker. He has a high basketball IQ and is able to read defenses and find open teammates. This skill is often overlooked, as many focus on his scoring ability. However, Curry's playmaking ability is a crucial aspect of his game and has allowed him to thrive in the Warriors' offense.
For the 2016-17 season, despite playing alongside Kevin Durant, advanced stats revealed Stephen Curry as the most impactful player in the NBA, edging out even LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard. These stats measure exactly how much a team outscores an opponent when a specific player is on the court. Curry's ability to "gravity"—the unique pressure he exerts on defenses that forces them to guard him 10 feet behind the arc—creates scoring opportunities for his teammates that simply do not exist for other stars.
Stephen Curry: Underrated - The Story of a Paradigm-Shifting Superstar Stephen Curry- Underrated
And yet, Stephen Curry is underrated.
What makes Curry virtually unguardable is the synthesis of these skills. Defenders cannot play him tight because he will blow by them and finish at the rim (an underrated aspect of his game). They cannot sag off because he will pull up from 30 feet. And even when they execute their coverage perfectly, Curry's constant motion — described by Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard as — ensures that help is always a half-step late. In addition to his shooting, Curry is an excellent playmaker
This panic is not quantifiable in a traditional box score. It doesn’t show up as a "hockey assist" or a "screen assist." It manifests as the corner three his teammate gets because two defenders flew out to the logo. It appears as the wide-open layup for Kevon Looney because the opposing center is terrified of dropping too low.
Despite a resume that places him firmly in the top tier of all-time greats, Curry is frequently subjected to a unique brand of moving goalposts. However, Curry's playmaking ability is a crucial aspect
When his high school recruitment rolled around, the snubs became public. Curry desperately wanted to play for Virginia Tech (his father's alma mater) but was only offered a walk-on role. He also inquired about joining Duke as a walk-on, only to be told the roster was "full up." The coaches who passed on him were not malicious — they were simply following conventional wisdom, prioritizing size and athleticism over a player who did not fit the traditional mold. Their mistake would become one of the great "what ifs" of sports history.
: While some might argue that Curry is overrated due to his flashy playing style or superstar status, the "underrated" label stems from a more nuanced understanding of his skills. It acknowledges that, despite his impressive résumé, he may not receive the same level of admiration or respect as other all-time greats.
Superstars in the NBA are expected to be alpha figures who demand the ball, dictate terms, and command the spotlight. Curry’s leadership style is completely antithetical to this archetype, which often leads to him being overlooked in debates about "all-time greats."
He changed how basketball is played, forcing teams to defend at the 3-point line.