5 reasons why Stephen Curry is still not included in the NBA GOAT conversation among fans and critics

#3 Poor defensive player

James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket defended by Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter during Game Three of the Second Round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 4, 2019 in Houston, Texas.

Basketball is played on both sides of the court, but NBA two-time scoring champion is famously known for his contributions on only one end of the floor - the offense. The Baby-Faced Assassin is regarded by many as the NBA's greatest shooter of all time, but his impact on defense has been questionable.

Players in the NBA GOAT conversation like Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Michael Jordan are famous for their all-round abilities. The 5-time All-Star has over time been accused of being reliant on his excellent three-point shooting skills, offering average impact in other aspects of the game. Though not terrible at defense, he adds little impact that pales in comparison to the others.

Curry is perceived to be an offensive player, whose lone defensive asset is his ability to strip the ball and start a fast break. A different trend to the aggressive style of play possessed by the all-rounders that dominate the NBA GOAT conversation.

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#2 LeBron James

Stephen Curry #30 and Lebron James #23 of Team LeBron react during the first half against Team Durant in the 70th NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena on March 07, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Being regarded by most as the best player of his generation doesn’t help the Curry NBA GOAT arguments. As it is only logical you won’t be considered the greatest of all time if you aren’t the greatest in your generation.

Playing in the same period as stars like LeBron reduces the chances of Curry achieving GOAT status. The Lakers player is widely considered the better player between the two. However, Curry did best James in the NBA finals on three occasions, which have mainly been put down to the strength of the Warriors' roster during those victories.

Even a few ardent Curry fans will argue against James being the better player. A belief that took on greater significance in 2016, when LeBron James inspired the Cavaliers to recover from a 3-0 deficit to come back victorious, winning the championship series. The series also saw James make history by being the first player to top the playoffs in all leading categories.

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#1 2019 championship loss and lack of Finals MVP

Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors is defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California.

The NBA three-time champion is yet to win a Finals award, despite having been to five championship finals and winning three. The point guard has often been derided for not being a clutch player, feeding off the likes of the star quality in the Warriors’ team, and the stats have done little to help the argument in his favor.

In his first championship win, Andre Iguodala snagged the finals MVP award after keeping James quiet for most of the series, whilst former Warriors' small forward Kevin Durant bagged the other two MVP finals awards, in their back-to-back championship runs in 2017 and 2018.

His critics will also point to the 2019 championship loss to the Toronto Raptors, where Curry, tipped to finally lead in the absence of Durant and fellow shooter Klay Thompson, stumbled. Reinforcing belief amongst critics of his dependence on team quality to stand out.

In the end, Curry failed to inspire the Warriors, watching in agony as their quest for a historic three-peat success was shattered. Surely the single biggest deterrent to any GOAT conversation involving the NBA’s greatest three-point shooter.