SUMMARY
- Mark Jackson coached the Golden State Warriors for three seasons before Steve Kerr was hired in 2014.
- Jackson did not mention Steph Curry on his list of greatest NBA point guards.
Steph Curry is probably the most responsible for the success the Golden State Warriors have experienced since 2015. It hasn’t been an easy ride for the Dubs lately as a good chunk of their core members have entered a decline. Curry has been the only consistent player on the roster and the front office management believes they can still win another title with him. But the issues mainly center around the supporting cast. Experts have debated whether the Warriors need an upgrade in All-Stars, but it doesn’t seem to be treading in that direction.
Putting aside their 2023-24 season problems, Steph is their only hope of finding any success in the near future. Right now, they still have Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney from their previous championship runs. Along with them, Chris Paul is being used as a tool to help the youngsters develop their game. And Steph is left with the responsibility of showing how it’s done. Despite the numerous accolades he has won, people still doubt his worthiness of being labeled the greatest point guard in NBA history.
Steph Curry gets snubbed by Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson was partially responsible for laying the ground for the championship team the Warriors eventually became after his tenure as head coach. He served for three seasons before Steve Kerr replaced him in 2014. Jackson had an interesting take on the greatest point guard ever debate, and he excluded Steph Curry from the conversation. Jackson named Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, and Chris Paul as his top point guards in NBA history.
Mark Jackson names his Top 5 pure Point Guards, Steph Curry does not make the list.
1. Magic Johnson
2. Isiah Thomas
3. John Stockton
4. Jason Kidd
5. Steve Nash/Chris Paul(Via https://t.co/kElqyZaGK2) pic.twitter.com/GiMkOI9zOu
— NBA Beyond Court (@NBABeyondCourt) March 18, 2024
He added, “I’m talking about six guys who run a team like true maestros.” These six individuals have one thing in common, elite playmaking ability. Even Isiah Thomas, a former Detroit Pistons player and NBA Champion claimed that Curry cannot be ranked amongst the greatest NBA point guards. Why? He comes from an era of position-less basketball and solely relies on his shooting capacity to get numbers.
Why isn’t Steph Curry considered the greatest point guard?
Most people disagree that Steph Curry doesn’t have the abilities of the point guard. He has been much more of a scorer than a facilitator over the years which explains why experts disregard him from this conversation. Even this season, Curry is averaging 27 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Paul has been leading the Warriors with 6.9 assists per game while Green is their top rebounder.
But to help people understand this better, Steph Curry’s responsibilities on the Warriors’ roster are much different from the role Mark Jackson’s top six point guards have had. As we witnessed during their 2022 NBA Championship run, Curry is a phenomenal leader. His facilitation days came during the peak of the Warriors dynasty while Kevin Durant assisted him in scoring. It was during that time when Curry averaged between 6 to 8 assists per game.