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Stephen Curry Says He Wants To Top Michael Jordan As NBA’s Greatest Player

By Val Powell
Published on: 01:02 PST, Dec 9, 2015

Golden State Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry is undeniably leading the race in the NBA in terms of player efficiency rating (35.17), and is leading his own team to a blistering start for the season.

However, it seems like Curry has other plans besides just leading the league in points, with 32.4 a game, and 116 made through three-pointers.

In an in-depth interview with the reigning Most Valuable Player, ESPN The Magazine reported that Curry is also aiming to eclipse Jordan as the best of all time.

“It’s a high mountain to climb, but I’m pretty motivated to take on the challenge,” said Curry about topping the NBA legend. The 28-year-old NBA superstar also said that he will find his own way “to get on that mountain.”

When ESPN’s Sam Alipour tried to confirm whether or not Curry is aiming to beat Jordan, the Warriors point guard said that NBA players should aim to be the best that they can be. “And if the best you can be is better than him, then why not? That’s good motivation,” he added.

Stephen Curry is slowly changing how the game is played, where emphasis is given to outside shooting. The Warriors point guard is shooting an astonishing 46.3 percent from the rainbow territory, and the fact that he launches 11 three-point shots each game and drills almost half of them opens up the floor for his teammates.

There may be some validation that Curry is en route to becoming the best in the game. His averages this season: 32.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.2 steals are pretty close to Jordan’s career averages: 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals.

However, in order to actually be a part of the conversation of being the best player in the league, Stephen Curry has to consistently pile up the numbers in the next few years. Currently, his career averages “only” amount to 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.7 steals.

One of the main differences between Jordan and Curry is that MJ was able to keep himself away from injuries despite the explosiveness that he always showed on the court. In his 15 seasons in the NBA, not once did Jordan average fewer than 20 points in a season.

“His Airness” accomplished two 35-point seasons, six 30-point seasons, four 25-point seasons, and three 20-point seasons.

On the other hand, Curry has never reached a season point average above 25 in his six previous seasons. He also nursed an ankle injury during the 2011-12 season, where he only averaged 14.7 points in 26 games.

Stephen Curry Injures His Ankles During 2012 Game Against San Antonio Spurs

The interview also touched on the emerging comparisons between the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls team and this year’s Golden State Warriors squad.

Jordan’s 1995-96 Bulls still holds the NBA record for most wins in a season (72-10), although the Warriors are threatening to come close as each game passes.

On Tuesday night, the Warriors torched Paul George and the Indiana Pacers, whom many people thought would give them a tough game. Led by Stephen Curry and two-guard Klay Thompson, the Warriors created a 109-77 lead late in the third quarter.

Thompson scored 32 points and drilled 10 three-pointers, while Curry had 29 points and 10 assists.

While the Pacers tried to get back into the game late in the fourth, the Warriors managed to keep them at bay, leading to a 131-123 finish.

Stephen Curry Leads GSW to Victory Over Indiana Pacers

The win is Golden State’s 23rd straight against no losses, which is a new NBA record.

With Stephen Curry steering the wheel, this season may just give birth to a new season best win-loss record.

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]

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