Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant will all go down in NBA history as some of the greatest players to ever suit up on the court.
But who is the most influential?
According to Paul Pierce, Curry is the one with the greatest influence on other players.
Speaking on Undisputed, via ClutchPoints, Pierce argued why Curry is so important to the league.
“[Steph Curry’s] influence on the game has been greater than [LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant]… I watched the Celtics game last night… Their first 10 shots were three pointers,” he said.
"[Steph Curry’s] influence on the game has been greater than [LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant]… I watched the Celtics game last night… Their first 10 shots were three pointers.”
Is Paul Pierce speaking the truth? 🤔
(via @undisputed) pic.twitter.com/xWWMe59l8U
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 22, 2024
Although some people will argue with Pierce’s point, no one can disagree with the fact that Curry has definitely changed how the league operates.
When he entered the NBA, the three-point shot was obviously highly valued but not a major focus for a number of players.
Now, years later, shooting has become much more important to just about every other player in the association.
Curry proved that shooting from beyond the arc could make a huge difference for teams.
His ability to land these shots, as well as his social brand of leadership, has led the Warriors to four championships.
Obviously, a team will only find great success if they focus on more than just shooting, but Curry has put a greater emphasis on three-point shots.
Pierce said that the Celtics have been influenced by Curry but you can see his impact in every corner of the league, from Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, and beyond.
The three-pointer seems to be more important than ever before and that is due in large part to Curry’s influence.
NEXT: Steph Curry Continues To Dominate The NBA With Three-Point Shooting