Post#44 » by Outside » Wed Jun 23, 2021 8:42 am
I haven't been participating in the project, so feel free to throw my ballot in the trash, but here it is anyway.
1. 2015-16 Steph Curry
A transcendent regular season, ruined only by his knee injury in the postseason. He has the stats and the metrics, but seeing it as it unfolded, the stats and metrics didn't begin to describe how magical he was. He had been a solid month of amazing, and then he had that Oklahoma City game that was beyond the power of words to describe, to have already made 11 threes and then pull up from 35 feet with seconds left in OT and see the Thunder bench imploring their teammates to get him, you can't leave him open there, when he's 35 feet from the basket, and to see the resignation on their faces as they see him launch it and they know it's going in. Soon after, I went and stood on a court 35 feet from the basket -- that's 15 feet beyond the top of the key -- and to know that Curry can do that from that distance is mind boggling. The reality of that season was a revelation because I came to understand the extent of how Curry's range changed the game and how his gravity is a force multiplier for his team's success beyond his own stats.
2. 1963-64 Wilt Chamberlain
I suppose the easy Wilt season to pick with the Warriors is 1961-62 with 50.4 PPG and 25.7 RPG, but by 1963-64, he was becoming the better version of himself even if his production was lower (though still really high). This was easily his best season for assists to that time, 5.0 vs 3.4 the previous season. He was able to lead a mediocre roster to the finals (Nate Thurmond was just a rookie, and the vets were mostly past their prime and really inefficient shooters). They were good defensively but lousy offensively. Wilt was better as a Sixer, but this was probably his best overall season as a Warrior.
3. 1974-75 Rick Barry
This was Barry at the peak of his powers, and he topped it off with a championship where he was clearly the best player on the floor. His ninth season, he was still a premier scorer, and he had the depth to his game that comes with maturity but hadn't yet begun to succumb to physical decline.
4. 2016-17 Kevin Durant
I suppose I have him lower than others, and I was conflicted about whether to have him third or fourth, but ultimately I gave Barry the nod for being such a clear alpha. Although Durant had spectacular numbers during this season, I view it to a certain extent as Durant unleashed by the presence of Curry. Curry deferred to Durant, and Curry's gravity benefitted Durant greatly, as did the team's willingness to indulge Durant's playing style. This was perhaps the greatest team of all time, but I'm not sure it's clear cut who the most impactful and important player was.
5. 1966-67 Nate Thurmond
This was difficult for me to choose between Nate and 2015-16 Draymond, but I give Thurmond the nod due to his ability to be a clear second option on offense in addition to an all-time great defensive anchor. Thurmond wasn't efficient on offense, but he could produce. Draymond has an obvious edge from a playmaking perspective, but Thurmond has an edge as a rebounder. I love Draymond and appreciate how great he is leading a team defense in the current era, but Thurmond was also an elite defensive anchor who could guard the best big men of the big man era and also guard in space. Both had exceptional intelligence, exceptional competitiveness, and were exceptional teammates. Very close, but my heart leads my head to go with Thurmond.
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