There are very few players in the NBA that have changed basketball systematically. The most obvious of which is Allen Iverson, who was born without a traditional jump shot and mastered every aspect of the game. Stephen Curry has taken on more than just his own sport but popular culture as well with what he brought to basketball: 3 pointers. Both superstars broke stereotypes and played their way into history, but only one can claim the title of “king.”
Stephen Curry is one of the most talented players in NBA history. He has won 3 MVP awards, 2 Championship rings, and 1 Olympic Gold Medal. His career stats are unbelievable. Allen Iverson is also a legendary player who changed the game for many years. He was once named MVP, 4-time scoring champion, and he led his team to 3-straight finals appearances. Read more in detail here: stephen curry career stats.
Stephen Curry is largely regarded as the best point guard in the NBA right now, and his style of play has had a significant impact on the game. Curry’s unrivaled shooting and talents have anointed him the league’s babyface and the star that young kids want to be like. It’s no surprise that as a member of the Golden State Warriors, he has earned two MVP awards and three titles.
Similarly, Allen Iverson altered the game when he arrived in the NBA with his off-court attitude and charisma. Not to mention that “The Answer” is one of the most dominating guards in NBA history. Few players can match Iverson’s sheer scoring ability as a creator of his own offense, owing to a never-ending drive. However, how does he compare to Stephen Curry?
Iverson did not have the same luck as Curry in terms of the teams he played for, which means he never won a championship, but does he have the advantage in terms of talent and impact? It’s time to find out who the better guard is, without any kind of recency bias, in order to put this comparison to rest.
Allen Iverson is the man in charge of the scoring.
Image courtesy of Getty Images
Stephen Curry may not have had a season as productive as Iveron, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a great marksman who can generate his own shot from three. When he’s hot and the shots are falling, the Golden State Warriors icon is also the most unstoppable shooter we’ve ever seen. Curry’s career average of 24.2 points per game on 43.3 percent three-point shooting qualifies him as an all-time great shooter. Curry’s drives are a huge part of his game, and his ball-handling ability allows him to be a danger from everywhere on the field.
The difference is that Iverson won four scoring championships and averaged over 30 points per game four times throughout his stellar career. Due to his speed, The Answer had one of the best crossovers ever and was incredibly good at getting to the rim anytime he wanted. Iverson could also easily develop his shot from mid-range and was unaffected by larger defenders. After Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson is one of the most well-known perimeter scorers in NBA history.
Overall, Stephen Curry outperforms Iverson as an outside shooter, but he lacks Iverson’s scoring prowess. He holds a tiny advantage over Curry, with four scoring championships and ten seasons averaging over 26 points per game (2 scoring titles and 5 seasons averaging over 26 PPG, career averaging 26.7 PPG).
Athleticism – Even if you’re not a natural athlete, you can
Curry and Iverson are both skinny and small, hence neither is considered a physically talented athlete. Curry, a point guard in a big man’s league, is 6’3″ and weighs 185 pounds, yet is tall enough to have an impact on offense. Curry is swift on and off the ball despite his thin frame, but he is generally unremarkable as a physical specimen.
Iverson’s height was stated as 6’0″, although his exact height is unknown. When compared to other NBA players, Iverson seemed to be under 5’11”, but that didn’t stop him from displaying his actual physical gift: speed. Despite just 165 pounds, Iverson was lightning fast, allowing him to smash defenses. His amazing speed provides him with enough agility to compensate for Curry’s height advantage.
Allen Iverson (Defense)
Because they have so much responsibility on attack, neither player is recognized for their defense. Curry and Iverson aren’t as big as other great defenders, therefore they’re prone to being outplayed on defense by more powerful or explosive players at their positions. Stats, on the other hand, are crucial in determining whether player had the superior defense.
Curry is a 6’3″ point guard with a 1.7 SPG and 0.2 BPG career average. Curry is a few inches taller than Iverson and excels at picking off errant passes in passing lanes. Stephen Curry isn’t close to being a defensive stopper, but he does bring good height and fast hands to the table when it comes to thefts.
Iverson, on the other hand, has a career average of 2.2 SPG and 0.2 BPG. The shooting guard leads the NBA in thefts by a slim margin, but he has previously led the league in steals three times. In his thefts-leading seasons, Iverson averaged 2.8 SPG, 2.7 SPG, and 2.5 SPG, while Curry led the NBA in steals once (2.1 SPG). Neither player was a good defender, but Iverson was superior at stealing the ball.
Allen Iverson’s Clutch
Because of their amazing offensive skill, both superstar guards should have the clutch gene. Curry, on the other hand, has been chastised in the past for not being clutch. Because someone with Curry’s extraordinary ability and skill is expected to always produce in the clutch, he might control a game and then seem to burn out in crucial times. Maybe it’s because opponents have always wanted to stop Curry, the best shooter in NBA history. Curry has never had the opportunity to show off his clutch shooting skills until now. His legendary game-winning shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016 was great, but he lacks Iverson-like moments.
Iverson was chastised for his leadership and demeanor, but he never had a problem with the clutch gene. While his team needed it, the guard made numerous huge shots, and when he was in Philadelphia, it was frequently required. Iverson’s big-game heroics are why he led a team to the Finals by himself in 2001, even stealing Game 1 against the mighty Lakers spearheaded by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Curry has had some wonderful teammates who have helped him get through some tough times, but Iverson was always the one to hit huge shots, and he did so often.
Stephen Curry’s Leadership
Both Stephen Curry and Allen Iverson have been the faces of the NBA at one time or another, and when their teams play poorly, they get the most blame. After all, great athletes with their level of skill don’t come around very frequently, so they’re used to being under pressure.
Curry’s ability to shoot the ball has earned him recognition around the NBA, and he is one of the most influential players in NBA history. So far, Steph has shown his ability to lead his team via shot-making while also displaying a lack of ego. Curry’s willingness to share the limelight with players like Kevin Durant helped him win many titles.
Meanwhile, Iverson was often chastised for his inability to share the attention and play the game the way he wanted. The Answer believed he was the greatest player on the floor and was prepared to take any shot to help his team win, but he lacked Curry’s I.Q. to make sacrifices for the team’s benefit. Curry has always been a team player, which has helped him become a better leader.
Stephen Curry’s Basketball IQ
Credit: USA Today Sports
Stephen Curry has to accept it when it comes to basketball intelligence. Curry seems to have been born knowing how to play the game, and he is a great student of the game. The way he dribbles in his pre-game routines and what he performs on the court every night is a result of his basketball I.Q. as well as his talent and preparation. Curry is the only player in the NBA who understands where to be on offense and how to move without the ball.
Although Iverson possesses an all-time high scoring I.Q., he lacks Curry’s efficiency and sense of momentum. Because Iverson was prone to making terrible shots, his field goal percentage (42.5 percent vs. 47.6%) is much lower. Curry’s intelligence also allowed him to take a backseat to Kevin Durant during his previous two championship campaigns, which he deserves credit for.
Evening Impact
This is the most difficult to assess. Curry and Iverson were both excellent players during their tenure in the NBA, and their contributions cannot be overlooked in any way. Curry has revolutionized the game, giving him a significant advantage in this comparison since the whole NBA now wants to shoot threes. Iverson, on the other hand, was undoubtedly brilliant on the court and had a significant effect on the game off it.
Although Curry is the best shooter of all time, Iverson may be among the top five scorers in NBA history. Both players were named MVPs and were the top players on their teams in the playoffs. Curry has the advantage in titles, implying a bigger influence, while Iverson has the credentials to back up his own impact. Even though there is a case for both sides, this one is called even in the end.
Even though it’s a one-on-one game, it’s still a
Both Stephen Curry and Allen Iverson are great scorers who rank among the best in their respective positions. Curry’s hallmark tactics of breaking down his opponent with dribbling movements and stepping back for his quickfire jumper have been witnessed countless times. Curry’s delicate touch allows him to attack the hoop and finish with finesse. Curry has the size to be a force on defense, or at the very least a nuisance.
Iverson could use dribble techniques to take down defenders, but he also had incredible speed to go by them. It was generally game over once Iverson got by a defender. He frequently created his own shot inside the three-point line, but it was still highly successful.
Overall, this is again another difficult one to assess. Curry is a virtuoso of the three-point jumper, and all he needs is a centimeter to let it fly. Iverson has humiliated every great defender in history, including Michael Jordan, at some time, and he makes amends.
Stephen Curry’s Career
via AP
On a team level, Stephen Curry had an undeniably greater career than Allen Iverson. Because of his amazing success as a selfless superstar, Curry has already cemented his place as one of the best point guards of all time. He is a Hall of Famer with three NBA championships and two MVP awards, and he is still largely regarded as the best shooter of all time.
Allen Iverson earned an MVP award and has played in the NBA Finals, yet he has never won a championship. In comparison to Curry, this is due to his leadership and personal commitment, as well as the caliber of teams and players he played with. Iverson was “old school” and refused to collaborate with other superstars on his own terms, but if he had, his legacy would have been much larger.
Total Points
Allen Iverson vs. Stephen Curry 3-3
Stephen Curry and Allen Iverson are two of the best point guards in NBA history. Curry’s three-point shot altered the game, and he has managed to overtake the likes of Reggie Miller and Ray Allen as a pure marksman. Three titles and two MVP awards are remarkable accomplishments for a guy still in his prime, and there may be more to come. Curry is one of the finest basketball players ever, as a selfless leader, outside shooter, and skilled floor general.
Meanwhile, Allen Iverson was a legend in his own right due to the way he dominated the game as a small forward and also altered the league with his attitude. For the elder generation, Iverson is one of the most admired players of all time because he was absolutely unstoppable as a scorer and did it with flair and grace. In the end, it’s impossible to differentiate the two Hall of Famers, even though both players might be argued to be greater individual players.
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