The NBA debates always circle around Lakers’ LeBron James and his achievements against Michael Jordan or other former greats. No one more than former Celtic Paul Pierce would agree. But amidst the regular comparisons, the fan interest peaks when something as refreshing as Kobe Bryant vs Steph Curry comes to the floor.
The Black Mamba always played for greatness and it’s only unfortunate that many analysts count him out of the GOAT debate. Similar with Steph Curry, the man changed the game of basketball and helped the Warriors enjoy Bulls-like dominance. So now, who gets to sit over the other in the positioning game?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Fans took the Kobe Bryant vs Steph Curry debate very seriously
Recently, a Lakers fan account, 8TheGOAT24, which is named after Kobe Bryant jerseys, posted a tweet. It argued that the Black Mamba was a better offensive & defensive player than Steph Curry. This piqued the interest of its 9K+ followers and all hell broke loose.
While some fans agreed and called Curry a “1-trick pony”, others went against Kobe’s offense. One interesting argument courted Steph as a player who can’t do much without the help of a good screen. Is Draymond Green smiling somewhere? Maybe.
But all those comments against Curry make little sense. If the Baby Faced Assassin can exploit his opponents with art he has perfected over the decade, he rightfully will. But on the other hand, it’s also true that the Mamba was much more locked in with his defense IQ. It is like Kobe ‘Efficient’ Bryant against Stephen ‘Volume’ Curry.
PS This does not take leadership into consideration. So if you too want to comment on the post, here it is –
Kobe Bryant is a better player On Offense and Defense than Stephen Curry. pic.twitter.com/Ex3cs2CMh5
— 8TheGOAT24 (@24IamTheGOAT8) September 17, 2021
Lakers’ Black Mamba and Warriors’ Assassin head to head
Over the years, both Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry battled one another on fifteen occasions (never once in the postseason). And even as Kobe leads the tally 9-6, there have been some epic showdowns.
Read more – Stephen Curry Has a Lot to Say About Kobe Bryant and MLB legend Buster Posey
Remember the April 12, 2013, game when both the stars combined 81 points? The Lakers won that game 118-116 even as Curry dropped 47 points with the help of nine three-point conversions. Yet, the 88 points from KB, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard proved too much for the Warriors that were ahead of the hosting team in the WC rankings.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Plus, Kobe showed his competitiveness against the Warriors when he took those two FTs even after injuring his Achilles. So it’s really difficult to say who gets to take the pole. But if you have already picked your choice, help us know in the comments below.
Watch this story – Novak Djokovic, Tiger Woods, and Other Athletes Express How Much Kobe Bryant Means to Them
Challenge Your Sports Knowledge!
Solve the puzzle and prove your knowledge of iconic players, terms, and moments.