Even though Lebron James was awarded the MVP in the Olympics 2024 after Team USA successfully clinched the gold, some people believe that James was not the real reason for their victory. Rather, it was Stephen Curry who delivered an amazing performance against France. By taking over in the fourth quarter, the Chef drained four threes from downtown in the final 2:43 to extend the lead to 11 points after the French had cut it down to just 3. For some, Steph seems to be the true reason for the win, and Colin Cowherd is one of those people.
During The Herd with Colin Cowherd show, the NBA veteran had nothing but praise for the baby-faced assassin following his first Olympic medal. “His[Stephen Curry] last two games, he shot 65% from three, so it’s not just that he’s the best shooter ever, he has the highest scoring ceiling ever,” Cowherd said. Curry was at his best in the final two games of the 2024 Olympics, scoring a combined sixty points and sinking 17-26 shots from beyond the arc.
“When you are really an all-timer, you can make all-time greats feel less than or outdated. Michael Jordan, mathematically, Michael Jordan’s mid-range game is outdated, step back two steps. The skyhook, uh-uh, outdated. Why take a 12-foot hook, like dunk it, or shoot a three? Steph can make things and players and games and people look outdated. There’s only one guy and only one reason Team USA won the gold and it’s not LeBron, it’s Steph,” Cowherd added.
Talking about skyhooks, let’s recall Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s era for a second. His skyhook was untouchable back then, and he used it without a second thought, getting buckets all day. Same with Michael Jordan‘s mid-range game—it was lethal, but now, with the league all about three-point shooting and efficiency, his game’s seen as “outdated.” And let’s be real, the main reason the league’s all about those threes now? One name: Stephen Curry.
How Steph Curry changed the game of basketball forever
From the moment Step Curry joined the Golden State Warriors in 2009, he was shooting the lights out. Later, when Klay Thompson and Draymond Green joined the party, the chef was ready to cook the whole league. When Curry entered the NBA in 2009, the average number of threes shot per game was 16.9, and by 2012, that average had increased to 18.4.
It was after his breakout year and playoff run that the NBA started taking Steph and the Warriors more seriously. Two years later, in 2014, the Warriors hired Steve Kerr as their coach. With that addition, the Golden State went from the basement to the penthouse, all behind Steph. It was his ball handling, lay-ups, passing, and, most importantly, his shooting that changed everything and took the team to a whole new level.
Curry made scoring look fun. He was shooting tons of threes per game, leaving everyone in awe, even the other teams sometimes. The Chef was pulling up from so far out that it started creating space for everyone else and stretching the floor. What used to be a big man’s game down low was getting busted wide open by a little guy.
Watching Steph win championships and MVPs over the years has influenced most of the NBA to try their luck from beyond the arc. In 2021, Curry broke the record for the most threes made ever, which was hardly a surprise. And after putting on a clinic with his three-point shooting in the Olympics, especially in the last two games, it’s clear he’s not slowing down anytime soon. On a scale of 1-10, how great do you think Stephen Curry is? Let us know in the comments below.