On Monday night, the Golden State Warriors ran out of the tunnel with the hope to bag a win before visiting the White House. However, following the tip-off, the defending champions struggled through the first three-quarters of the game. The chances of clinching a win against the Washington Wizards looked bleak until Stephen Curry switched gears and took control of the game. With a little assistance from Jordan Poole, Curry paved the Warriors’ way to victory.? The two-time MVP?s spectacular 41-point show earned high praise from the NBA community. With that said, the comments by an NBA veteran weren?t received well by fans.??
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Jeff Van Gundy, the former head coach of the New York Knicks, showered heaps of praise on the four-time NBA champion. While doing so, the current ESPN commentator also made an audacious claim. He said, ?You could make a strong case he’s been the most valuable player in the league over the past decade.? He spoke about Curry while considering Curry’s achievements over the decade. As reports of his comments made rounds online, fans were quick to react.?
Jeff Van Gundy faces the brunt of NBA Twitter
NBA fans seemingly denied Gundy’s claim of Curry being the most valuable player over the past decade. With this in mind, they brought LeBron James into the conversation. Fans stated that the decade included years of LeBron being at his A-game. Hence, with this dominance, they claimed that it would unfair to declare Curry the MVP of the decade. Fans argued that if James wasn’t in the current league, then the Warriors’ veteran could have been the most valuable player in the league. Some even pointed out that when Kevin Durant was with the Warriors, Curry was their number 2.
Here are some more reactions from NBA Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BhWuke/status/1615526602502184960?t=74Wh4Q7mBk-tgyRwgSY8JQ&s=19
https://twitter.com/__Kevo35/status/1615552332590112769?s=20&t=uJtgi-0PbbvGB3xE3Povdg
If Lebron didn't exist, could be pic.twitter.com/UEcoyruC6U
— Daniel Perez (@DanielPerez_MOI) January 18, 2023
Yet he has 4 rings and 1 FMVP in this decade… he was the 2nd option when Durant was there. Van Gundy just says anything at this point.
— LeStubborn (@LeStubborn_) January 18, 2023
Most influential player, yes.
Most valuable, debatable..
— Nyansani Ba 🇬🇭🕊️ (@NyansaniB) January 18, 2023
It’s bron
— sc jarl (@jarlantics) January 18, 2023
Coach Steve Kerr on Stephen Curry
While the NBA world argued about Curry’s value and impact on the league, his head coach Steve Kerr made his thoughts clear. After the game against the Washington Wizards, Kerr, a five-time NBA champion himself, was left in awe of his team’s leader. In the post-game press conference, he said, “He’s [Curry] the modern MJ [Michael Jordan].”
As seen in the game against the Wizards, more than half the arena was filled with people flaunting a number 30 jersey with Curry’s name on it. Kerr stated that this is the effect Michael Jordan had on the league in his time.
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While making this claim, he also explained why fans connect easily with the two-time MVP. He said, “I think people can relate to him because he’s not this superhero, in terms of his size and strength.”?
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Watch This Story:?Highest paid players on the Warriors after latest contract extensions for Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins
Do you agree with Jeff Van Gundy’s comments? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.