Post#444 » by Godymas » Wed May 10, 2023 12:44 pm
I was going to make a similar thread to be honest.
Curry is so clearly this era's "Kobe", just for a different generation. More of the underdog mentality type of generation.
Imo the LeBron James era was a bit different. You could say that it started around 2007 and ran to 2014 and wouldn't be too wrong. That's when LeBron won all the MVPs, went back to back in championships, basically that's where LeBron's initial legacy was formed.
The second half of LeBron's era has basically been "can we get lucky during the Steph Curry show"
The Warriors and Curry have been, by far, the most influential team in basketball since probably 2016, you could say 2015, but 2016 was the year where the whole world had to pay attention, it was that ridiculous.
Also if KD never joins the Warriors, it's doubtful that Curry wins MVP in 2017, but what would stop Curry from getting an MVP in 2018 or 2019? He was clearly capable of playing on that level. He would have won an MVP in 2021 if the Warriors were not playing Wiseman from the start. The Warriors with Curry would have been a 60 win team and he would've been the sole reason why in 2021.
I'm just saying, LeBron kind of became the sideshow to the Warriors in the 2nd half of the decade. You'd have to be kidding if you ever truly "believed" the LeBron Cavs were going to beat the KD Warriors. Especially considering the 2017 Cavs was EASILY the best Cavs team LeBron had and it got absolutely obliterated by the KD Warriors.
At this point LeBron is clinging toward his own relevancy in some ways. Yes he is still a face of the league, but it's been a tumultuous last few years for LeBron. It started on a good note with the bubble Ring, but it's been struggle after struggle and this year he might have a chance to make some noise.
If Curry comes back and beats LeBron, imo, this seal's LeBron's legacy as always being bested by Curry, as someone that had a worthy adversary that could control him and take him out of contention. To me, no GOAT would ever have had someone they just could never beat in their best years. Basically Curry is one of the factors, a long with the 2011 finals, that makes me park LeBron firmly at #2 all time.