Just like Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, Stephen Curry has proven to bring about a revolution in the NBA. However, many think this revolution has not yielded positive results for the league and have adverse opinions regarding his game style. One of them is the 4x NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal, who has voiced his disregard. Following him, even a Warriors legend commented about the beneficial changes Curry brought in but also underlined the downsides.

On the Mark Jackson Show, Andre Iguodala, who’s a former teammate of Stephen Curry, said, “They changed the game for Steph Curry, you have to shoot 70 threes now. They keep saying Steph ruined the game, yes but the only way you shoot 70 threes is if you shoot like Steph. There ain’t nobody else who can shoot like Steph.”

Just like Iguodala, even Shaq expressed his concerns on his The Big Podcast about the current NBA games’ lack of variation. And with teams all across the league following a similar 3-point-heavy approach influenced by Steph Curry, the games in the league are getting monotonous, leading to a decline in viewership. The Big Aristotle remarked, “It’s down because we’re looking at the same thing…Everybody is running the same plays…Steph Curry and those guys messed it up. I don’t mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes, but every team isn’t a 3-point shooter. So why everybody has the same strategy? I think it makes the game boring.”

The arc was introduced in the 1979-80 season, and since then, the league has registered constant growth in the three-point attempts. This year, the average team is shooting 37 threes per game, which is also nearly three times what it was at the beginning of the century. Reportedly, this is also nearly a 50% rise since the 2014-15 season, which happens to be the first championship of the Curry-led Warriors that cemented the importance of three-point shooting.

Moving on, Iguodala even lauded Curry and his team’s record shooting, but claimed that not every team is cut out for the 3-point game, stating, “Everybody wants to be Steph Curry, but everybody’s not Steph Curry…it makes the game boring.” Shaq believes that the NBA’s “copycat league” mindset has resulted in a lack of balance, reducing the sport’s basic appeal. He cautioned that if teams do not adjust, low viewership might jeopardize the income of the league.

Even NBA icon Bob Ryan has long attacked the 3-point shot for undermining the game’s principles, claiming it undervalues strong post players like Kevin McHale and alters basketball at all levels. Despite all of the disadvantages that the 36-year-old has brought with his game, he has also brought many positives to the NBA community, which has resulted in him being one of the most liked and respected NBA players.

How has Stephen Curry made a positive impact on the league?

Stephen Curry has altered the NBA by motivating future players with his revolutionary approach and passion for the sport. His incredible 3-point shooting has smashed records and altered the game, making it easier to play and demonstrating that great talent can prevail over height and agility. Curry’s effect, however, goes beyond his statistics as he motivates new players to embrace their unique abilities and play the game their way.

He displays how ability, accuracy, and determination can transform athletes into influential figures. The 10x All-Star’s impact has also extended to young coaching, with exercises now emphasizing shooting range, skill, and originality, encouraging players to build a varied game. Curry’s leadership style, which prioritizes team success over individual honors, has even instilled a new energy in the NBA. With his approachable and down-to-earth style that combines humility and hard effort, he has encouraged young athletes to forge their paths to success.

Appreciating the same, one of the basketball greats, Ray Allen, said, “He’s on his own level, one he made for himself. He’s done such a great job. And he has such great character as a person, and you root for people like that. He’s getting everything he deserves.”

So, while several NBA Legends believe that Wardell Stephen Curry’s revolution is hurting the league, there is no denying that he has been the face of the league and the reason why people bought tickets, took time out of their busy schedules, and came to see him live, resulting in a lot of money for the league.