Nikola Jokić and Steph Curry? Already top-5 all-time according to @RealJasonKidd 👀
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Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three point shot.
The Golden State Warriors are in the middle of one of the more consequential offseasons in recent memory, but the conversation around Stephen Curry has not slowed down. The debate around where he ranks among the all-time greats is one that never fully goes away, and this week it resurfaced from a credible voice.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd weighed in on the Dan Patrick Show. A Hall of Famer and one of the most decorated point guards in league history, Kidd has seen enough basketball to have an informed perspective on where the game’s greats sit relative to each other.
His answer put Curry in elite company.
GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors drives against Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show, Kidd laid out his all-time top five without hesitation. He started with Michael Jordan at number one, followed by LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Then came the twist. Rather than reaching back into history for the final two spots, Kidd looked at what is happening right now. As he put it: “And then if you had to end it today, it would be Joker and Steph.“
That places Nikola Jokic and Curry ahead of every other player in NBA history outside of Jordan, James, and Bryant. It is a significant statement from someone who played against and coached alongside many of the legends being left off that list.
Kidd extended his top ten to include Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal, while placing Larry Bird and Magic Johnson just outside in his top 15. Four of his top ten are still active in the league, with Durant currently sidelined with an ankle injury during the Houston Rockets playoff run.
Nikola Jokić and Steph Curry? Already top-5 all-time according to @RealJasonKidd 👀
GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
Both players are still making their case in real time. Jokic helped keep the Denver Nuggets alive in a must-win Game 5 earlier this week and faces another elimination game Thursday night. A win would push the series to Game 7 and add another chapter to an already remarkable postseason resume. An early exit, however, could invite the kind of scrutiny that follows even the greatest players when the playoffs end sooner than expected.
Curry, meanwhile, continues to be the subject of all-time debates as he enters the final stage of his career at 38. His four championships, two MVP awards, and status as the all-time three-point leader have made the conversation around his legacy increasingly difficult to ignore.
Kidd is not someone who makes these claims lightly. He played against some of the greatest players in NBA history and coached against the rest. He knows what elite looks like up close, and his take is worth taking seriously because of it
Curry has spent his entire career building one of the most compelling all-time cases in NBA history. A take like Kidd’s is not an outlier anymore. It is becoming harder to argue against.
The legacy is still being written. Every season adds to it.
Joker and Steph. That is where Kidd lands. He is not alone.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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