I have never really been a sports enthusiast of any kind. Nonetheless, and to my own considerable amazement, it is now accurate to say that I am, without doubt, a bona fide "Warriors Fan," referring, of course, to the Golden State Warriors, the San Francisco-based basketball team that won its fourth NBA Championship just a couple of months ago.
I actually wish I had one of those yellow signs with the Warriors' "Authentic Fan" statement emblazoned across it, so I could put that up in my front window. That's what kind of a Warriors' fan I have become. I'm "Authentic."
As an authentic Warriors' fan, I naturally noted an article in the San Jose Mercury News that ran on July 14th, discussing whether Steph Curry (of the Warriors) or LeBron James (currently with the Los Angeles Lakers) should be credited as the "second greatest basketball player of all time." Michael Jordan is considered to be the best.
Naturally (as an Authentic Warriors' Fan), I am partial to Curry, but I was willing to read about the comparison presented in the Mercury's article. As it turns out, Jon Becker, who wrote the article, is probably an "Authentic Fan," too, because he came down pretty hard on Curry's side, providing the following explanation:
1. Greatest shooter ever. Even before Curry broke Ray Allen’s all-time 3-point record this season, the Warriors star was already considered the greatest shooter in the history of the sport. Now the numbers back it up – Curry surpassed Allen with 3,117 3-pointers in 826 games, compared to Allen’s 2,973 in 1,300 career games.
2. He changed the game. The ultimate stamp of greatness is reserved for athletes who are so good they alter the trajectory and the way others play the game. Here’s where Curry joined Michael (dunking and scoring ability) and Wilt Chamberlain (dunking and dominance). Curry’s unmatched long-distance marksmanship has changed basketball at every level, where even youngsters are testing the limits of their shooting range.
3. Head-to-head dominance: Steph and LeBron squared off against each other four times in the NBA Finals, with the Warriors winning three times.
Not to discount any of these justifications for recognizing the greatness of Steph Curry, I was surprised that Becker left out the real reason to name Curry as the "second best" NBA player of all time (and maybe even the first best).
The reason that Curry should be considered for the highest of basketball honors, in my opinion, and the reason I became an "Authentic Fan" of the Warriors, is what is often, now, called "Warriors' Ball."
While Curry is a great shooter, and has changed the game, and while Curry has arguably bested LeBron James in "head-to-head dominance," it is not Curry's individual prowess and accomplishments that are most notable. What is most notable is the fact that Curry elevates the team above himself as an individual player. That is what makes "Warriors' Ball" so special - and that's the reason Curry is so special.
"Warriors' Ball" is pretty well described in a November 25, 2021, article by Aikansh Chaudhary, the NBA columnist for Essentially Sports:
One might wonder, what is the recipe for success for the Warriors? Well, the answer is quite simple: moving the ball unselfishly. They have done that year after year and fans got to witness that epic ball movement against the 76ers as well. Upon seeing such elegant ball movement, it's no wonder many NBA stars want to be a part of the Golden State Warriors' system.
Chaudhary's article is titled, "Golden State Warriors’ Unselfish Ball Movement Makes It Clear Why Everyone Wants To Be A Part Of Their Team." If you'd like to see a sample, proving the point, you can click right here.
I give the Warriors' Head Coach Steve Kerr a lot of the credit for "Warriors' Ball," to go along with the credit due Curry, but it is definitely fair to say that Curry has both exemplified, and incarnated, the idea that it is the "team," not the individual player, that creates great basketball.
Isn't that true in so many other arenas, as well? Politics, for instance!
Elevating the team over the individual, unselfishly, is what makes "Warriors' Ball" so wonderful. And that's why I am an "Authentic Fan."
Image Credits:
(2) - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/377387643745519933/
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