5 times Stephen Curry failed to rise to the occasion for the Golden State Warriors when they desperately needed him to

#3 Game 5 vs Cleveland Cavaliers - 2016 NBA Finals

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals [Source: New York Times]

After a unanimous MVP year, a 73-9 regular-season record and numerous records broken, Stephen Curry was 48 minutes away from capping off the greatest NBA season by any player in 2016. He is the only player in the 50-40-90 club to average 30 points per game, but couldn't finish the job in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

With a 3-1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals, Stephen Curry struggled offensively from the floor, shooting 8-21 (38%) from the field including 5-15 (33%) from three-point range. The Golden State Warriors lost that game and it sparked the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history.

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#2 Game 6 vs Toronto Raptors - 2019 NBA Finals

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals

This time facing elimination, Stephen Curry missed one of the biggest shots of his life in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Down 3-2, Curry got a pass from Draymond Green in the final five seconds of the game and attempted a three-pointer from the right wing. A shot he makes regularly, that specific moment was probably too big for him to handle and Curry missed the shot.

He finished the game with just 21 points on 6-17 (35%) shooting from the field, including 3-11 (27%) from beyond the arc as the Warriors fell to a defeat.

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#1 Game 7 vs Cleveland Cavaliers - 2016 NBA Finals

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals [Source: KQED]

All the things true for Game 5 of this series are the same for Game 7. This was arguably the greatest game of the decade as the 73-9 historic Golden State Warriors were up 3-1 but squandered the lead to now play a Game 7 in the NBA Finals.

The two-time MVP and only ever unaminous MVP Stephen Curry took on four-time MVP and two-time champion LeBron James. The greatest NBA season was on the line but the reigning MVP came up shorter than ever. In that game, Stephen Curry scored just 17 points on 6-19 (31%) shooting from the floor, including 4-14 (28%) from beyond the arc.

Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals still haunts Stephen Curry."I want to try to redeem myself.” ➡️ https://t.co/E427Qt7GJe pic.twitter.com/ARVkcOA1sI

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 18, 2017

The Golden State Warriors still had a chance to win the game despite Stephen Curry's poor shooting night as the game was tied with a minute left at Oracle Arena. Curry, however, registered a 3-point fourth quarter, going 1-6 from the field.

He finished the game with two assists, an obviously horrible statline for an NBA point guard. Curry turned the ball over four times, didn't find his teammates for open looks and airballed a few shots, all of which visibly broke the spirit of the fans in the arena. The Cavaliers ultimately secured an incredible comeback Finals victory.

In Games 1-4 of the 2016 Finals, Stephen Curry shot 44.7% from 3. In Games 5-7, he shot 35.7% https://t.co/HvePF5Wgbv pic.twitter.com/jZ6fx3uKOe

— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) May 30, 2017