Would Stephen Curry Have Become the Best Shooter in History if He Had Been Traded to the Suns on Draft Night?

The Golden State Warriors have become synonymous with success and a winning mentality. In the last ten years, the Warriors have won four titles. Their success paved the way for the rest of the league to adopt a team-oriented style of basketball. However, the Warriors weren’t always the juggernaut we all know now. In fact, the franchise endured a barren spell of 30 years in which they didn’t win a single title.

But, in 2009, the Warriors front office made a decision that would go on to change the course of their history. In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Dubs acquired Stephen Curry with the 7th pick. Curry, along with Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green completely transformed the Warriors into a dynasty. Nevertheless, this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the coaching prowess and leadership of Steve Kerr. The Warriors brought Kerr on board in 2014, and his astute ability to identify talent coupled with his strategic brilliance led the team to secure their first championship in 30 years in 2015. However, this all could have been very different for the Warriors, Curry and Kerr.

Both Kerr and Curry could easily have represented the Suns if a draft night trade went through. However, the trade didn’t go through and the rest is history. But, if Curry was to represent the Suns, would he still become an NBA icon?

The time when Steve Kerr tried to sign Curry for the Suns

The NBA operates with intricate dynamics, giving rise to various “buts” and “what ifs”. This obviously leaves room for narratives and speculation to take shape. Narratives drive the perception of a particular player, and perception impacts a player’s legacy. Stephen Curry and the Warriors’ legacy is one of dominance and success, but what if Steph never played for the Warriors? This isn’t just mere speculation because Steve Kerr tried to trade for Curry on the 2009 draft night when he was the GM of the Suns.

In 2009, Kerr was the GM of the Phoenix Suns and he was particularly excited by a young Curry. Kerr tried to maneuver a draft night trade with the Warriors. However, the trade fell through and Curry remained a Warrior. In a recent interview, Kerr recounted the time he tried to acquire Curry. He said, “We were looking at Steph and seeing Steve Nash’s next version. They were so alike in so many ways and we’ve watched Steve become a 2x MVP. So, all of the concern that most of the people in the league had about Steph in terms of size and defense, we saw everything we needed to see.” He added further, “We tried to trade for him and we thought we had a deal…. When he fell to seven, our draft room erupted because we thought the deal was in place and Steph was going to be a Phoenix Sun. It didn’t happen, it fell through.” 

Steph playing for the Suns would have been fascinating. Kerr had shown a lot of faith in Curry, shown by the fact that he was willing to trade for the undersized Curry. But would he have achieved the same level of success he has in the Bay Area?

Would Stephen Curry have become an NBA icon with the Suns?

No, Curry’s accomplishments with the Suns would not have reached the heights that he attained with the Warriors. Curry’s continued brilliance over the last decades papered over the shaky start that he had with the Warriors. His initial seasons with the Warriors were littered with recurring ankle injuries. Any team other than the Dubs would have traded Steph and the Suns would have definitely traded Curry because they were in the midst of a title challenge. In the 2009-10 season, the Suns finished fifth in the Western Conference, winning 54 games.

Furthermore, his playing would also have been limited because of Steve Nash. At that time, Steve Nash was the best point guard in the league and Curry’s lack of game time would have severely hampered his development. In my opinion, Curry might not have had the opportunity to showcase his world-class talent with the Suns. While he could have been traded to another team and potentially developed into a star, it’s unlikely that it would have happened with the Suns. Simply put, the Warriors provided the perfect environment for Curry to blossom into an NBA icon and the best shooter ever.

Is Steph really the best shooter ever?

Over its illustrious 77-year history, the NBA has witnessed several sharpshooters like Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, and Larry Bird. However, Curry has blown them out of the water. Curry’s shooting prowess has completely transformed the NBA. He currently holds several shooting records.

Read More: Resurfaced Kobe Bryant Clash Unfolds Ime Udoka’s Tense History With the Lakers

Curry boasts the NBA record for the highest number of 3-pointers made, registering an impressive 3,486 successful attempts. Furthermore, Curry also holds the distinction of most 3-pointers made in a single season. In the 2015-16 season, Curry successfully made a whopping 402 threes. Another shooting record that Curry holds is the highest free-throw efficiency. As of March 2023, he maintains an impressive free-throw accuracy of 90.91%. While many debates in the NBA are often subjective, Stephen Curry has definitively settled the discussion about the best shooter in the league. He is hands down, the best shooter in the league.

Watch this Story: 5-Time Champion’s Bold Prediction on LeBron James Comes With 1 Crucial Caveat