Stephen Curry is now in Gilbert Arenas’ top five NBA players of all time, thanks to his performance in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Curry saved Team USA in the semifinal and final medal games in Paris by scoring 60 points on 63 percent shooting from three-point range.
Without Curry, the USA probably would have had to settle for bronze or silver. His heroics have become a signature moment in his two-time MVP career.
“That Olympics performance kind of did it for me. As a hooper, there are moments in history and time in your game that when the light is on you, you shine, and that is it. All the things he has ever done, all the championships, they were just better than everybody,” said Arenas on his podcast Gil's Arena.
Curry has caught some heat in the past for not always having his best games when the most is on the line. With four championships under his belt, a player of Curry’s stature would be expected to have more than one Finals MVP.
“He didn’t have those moments in his career where we got to look at Steph and say, this is your iconic Finals moment. When it came here (in the Olympics), he did it,” said Arenas. “He had all this greatness but never had a true moment where we say he did that thing.”
Arenas failed to cement his top five as he did not remove one of the players he previously had on his list. Still, he claims Curry has reach that tier of greatness.
“My original top five is MJ, LeBron, Kobe, Shaq, and Magic, and then I added Steph. I don’t know who to push out, so you are going to have to give me some time,” said Arenas.
Curry faces some stiff competition to make this top five, and it will be interesting to see if Arenas updates us on who he eventually removes.
MORE WARRIORS NEWS
Former player says Poole is reason for Warriors' downfall