Gilbert Arenas generated a lot of attention and scrutiny from NBA fans after his latest statement regarding Steph Curry. To those who might not be aware, Arenas is a former NBA star and has remained relevant in the basketball community through his podcast “Gil’s Arena.”
During the latest episode of his podcast, Arenas ended up inadvertently taking a shot at Steph Curry and claiming that there Steph does not come under his definition of generational talent while other NBA legends do. Since Steph’s greatness and legacy are well known across the NBA world, a closer look at the situation is certainly required.
Gilbert Arenas opines that all of Steph Curry’s abilities and skills can be imitated
A generational talent can be defined as a one-of-a-kind type of player with a unique playstyle that cannot be imitated easily. While one would assume that Steph Curry clearly falls under this definition due to his otherworldly long-distance shooting abilities, Arenas does not appear to share this point of view.
The former NBA star claimed that Steph should not be called a generational talent due to the fact that all of his abilities and skills could be mimicked. Arenas believes that being a physical specimen is essential to being considered a generational talent.
Since Steph is only 6’3 with no real physically dominant abilities. Arenas opined that Steph does not come under this category. Especially when compared to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Victor Wembanyama, or LeBron James.
“Steph [Curry] is not a generational talent… Generational means you can’t mimic it… You can’t mimic f*cking LeBron James. You can’t mimic Victor Wembanyama… [Nikola] Jokic is not a generational talent.”
— Gilbert Arenas 😳
(via @GilsArenaShow)pic.twitter.com/9zrVIMjzvJ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 31, 2024
“Steph Curry is not a generational talent. You know what generational means? Wemby is a generational talent…Generational means you can’t mimic it…Can you mimic Magic Johnson? 6’9 point guard with the vision. You can’t mimic Shaquille O’Neal with the body. You can’t mimic. You can’t mimic f*cking LeBron James. You can’t mimic Wemby. Those are generational talents…”
Arenas appears to imply that physical abilities are the main criteria for considering an NBA star as a generational talent. While there could be some truth to these claims, one should wonder if there is any room for error in his definition.
Is there any validity to Arenas’ take on Steph Curry?
At face value, Gilbert Arenas seems to be making a valid point. However, taking a deeper look at his explanation reveals a few flaws in his logic. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were both listed at 6’6 and significantly shorter than the likes of Shaquille O’Neal or Victor Wembanyama. Be that as it may, there is no denying that they were generational talents.
The same can be said about Kyrie Irving, who is also listed around the same height as Steph Curry. Irving’s handles and finishing abilities are second to none among the guards in the league. By Arenas’ definition, none of these stars can be considered generational talents. Fans are left free to decide if Arenas’ opinion on generational talents holds any validity.