Is Stephen Curry the greatest player in NBA history?
That's the question Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal asked himself after the superstar led the Warriors to a comeback overtime win over the first-place Celtics on Tuesday.
"I'm wondering — I'm not saying, I'm just wondering — because he's been consistently the best shooter his whole career," O'Neal began. "I'm wondering is it time to start putting him as the best player of all time?"
Kenny Smith quickly rebutted, asking if Shaq would put Curry over himself.
"Yes," O'Neal said without hesitation.
O'Neal went on to say he's not personally putting him over Michael Jordan but believes it's time for Curry to join the conversation, one that is typically held for only a handful of players like MJ, LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
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.@SHAQ on Steph: "I'm wondering... Is it time to start putting him as the best player of all-time?" 👀 pic.twitter.com/4ORTLUyHpt
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 20, 2023
Curry was quiet for most of Tuesday's contest, playing through foul trouble. Golden State trailed by 13 points when he picked up his fifth personal with 6:07 to play in the third quarter and it seemed like Boston would cruise to a statement road victory. Curry checked out of the game and the Celtics quickly extended their lead to 17 points.
Curry wouldn't return until the fourth quarter but came out firing knowing he only had one more foul to give before his night was over.
That final foul never came and Curry's unwavering confidence gave him a gamebreaker, taking over in the final frame to force overtime before carrying the Warriors to their best regular season win.
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Curry had 13 points and four assists in the fourth quarter alone. He buried a deep 3-pointer to pull Golden State within one with under four minutes to play, then tied the game on another tightly guarded 3-ball that would eventually send the game into OT.
Curry outscored the Celtics in overtime by himself, 7-5. His game-sealing 3-pointer might have scraped the Chase Center ceiling, sending the building into a frenzy when it fell from the sky and touched nothing but net to put Boston to bed with his "night night" celebration.
WHAT A SHOT BY STEPH 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kvuMmWrV00
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 20, 2023
Curry finished the game with 33 points and six assists. His late-game heroics prompted the "Inside the NBA" conversation about his placement among the greatest players in basketball history.
Does Curry belong in the GOAT debate? With four NBA championships, two MVPs, a Finals MVP, nine All-Star and NBA nominations, two scoring titles and his standing as the undeniably greatest shooter in basketball history, he's certainly knocking on the door.