LeBron James' friend skeptical of Steph Curry's legacy after Warriors' OT bench move in Clippers stunner

Cuffs The Legend, a longtime friend of LA Lakers star LeBron James, is known for his social media presence. Following the conclusion of the 2024-25 regular season on Sunday, Cuffs shared his thoughts on the Steph Curry-led Golden State Warriors’ 124-119 overtime loss to the LA Clippers.

With the game tied at 111 with 17.5 seconds remaining and the ball in the hands of the Clippers after a timeout, coach Steve Kerr took his star guard out of the game for defensive purposes. In addition to Curry, Brandin Podziemski was also subbed out in favor of center Kevon Looney and 6-foot-5 guard Moses Moody.

The gamble paid off, as Golden State got a stop, and the game went into overtime.

Cuffs saw the strategy as a blemish on the four-time NBA champion’s legacy, posting on X (formerly Twitter):

"Steph Curry got benched on the final possession because he’s a liability defensively. You just can’t be included in Top 10 discussions if your team can’t afford to have you on the floor at the end of games!" Cuffs tweeted.

In what turned out to be the Warriors’ final defensive possession, with 7.7 seconds left in overtime, Moody again replaced Curry. On the ensuing offensive possession, the two-time NBA MVP returned as Buddy Hield missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game.

Why Steve Kerr's decision to bench Steph Curry makes sense

With the game on the line, Warriors coach Steve Kerr benched Steph Curry for defensive purposes. While fans might want the best players on the floor at all times, the strategy is not unusual in the NBA.

Kerr went with defensive-minded players such as Moses Moody, Gary Payton II and Kevon Looney — all of whom saw action down the stretch on Sunday. A bigger lineup is arguably better suited to counter the LA Clippers' offense, which includes Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Norman Powell and Kris Dunn.

While Steph Curry’s defensive limitations — despite being the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made — can be debated, his offensive impact cannot be overstated. He has delivered in the clutch many times before.

Steph Curry's Warriors fell short on Sunday and dropped into the play-in tournament. They will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday for the No. 7 seed. If they lose, Golden State will have another chance to earn a playoff berth Friday against the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchup.