A Gushing Ode to the Greatness that is Stephen Curry

Mural by @Illuminaries. Photo by Russell Mondy via Flickr

“Sometimes NBA games just come flat out down to the best player on the floor” Bob Fitzgerald Warriors announcer 11/11/22.

We here in the Bay Area may take greatness for granted. We had Joe Montana and Jerry Rice for most of my childhood which made my father happy. I rocked with Bo Jackson, Tim Brown, and the LA Raiders…which did not.

We also have legendarily picturesque views and beaches a stone’s throw from wherever you may be reading this.

On top of all that, Bay Area culture is a unique genre in itself; just ask any transplant from a flyover state or any state for that matter. The greatness of The Bay is indisputable.

With that in mind, the greatness of Wardell Stephen Curry II, known to most just as Steph Curry, has just become accepted as the norm for many of us. In fact, it is far from normal.

In his 14th season at the age of 34, Steph is second only to Luka Doncic in points per game at 32.6 at the time of this writing. Just to put it into perspective, outside of baseball whose MVP voting is different, Wayne Gretzky and Tom Brady are the only other two unanimous all time MVPs in their respective sports. That’s some rare air up there. Shaq and Lebron both fell one vote short of the NBA feat respectively.

This isn’t about 4 rings, parades nor All Star appearances. This is about the now. Steph night in and night out is putting this team on his back, including the game I just watched against a very strong Cleveland Cavaliers. This is about the glue that keeps this team pushing forward. This is about the man on and off the court. We all love Joe, Barry and maybe even OJ…if you went to Galileo High in the mid sixties…actually, scratch that.

The point is, we have never seen an athlete represent the Bay on such an international platform. This isn’t to take away from any current or former teammates. We all know Steph wouldn’t be the same had he ended up on the Knicks on draft day. Or would he? Thankfully we’ll never know. Actually let me take time to thank (clown) and shout out the Minnesota Timberwolves real quick.

With the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select … Ricky Rubio.

With the sixth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select … Jonny Flynn.

With the seventh pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors selected … Stephen Curry.

That is, my friends, two point guards selected by one team right in front of Steph Curry. To think I didn’t want to be the guy who was the odd man out when voting for Shaq or Lebron to be unanimous MVPs. Imagine being the guy who passed on Steph not once, but twice, with players at the same position.

Point being, while this season is off to a rocky start I have faith knowing that #30 will be lacing them up with the rest of the boys and because of that, we will always have a chance. Just see Bob Fitzgerald’s quote from above. Appreciate the greatness.