May 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry accepts the MVP trophy at the Oakland Convention Center. Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
By: Yama Hazheer
The NBA got it right: Stephen Curry is your 2014-15 Most Valuable Player. The most prestigious individual award in basketball went to the appropriate player.
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Steve Kerr not winning Coach of the Year made the Bay Area annoyed. Draymond Green not winning Defensive Player of the Year made the Bay Area frustrated. If Curry had been robbed of the NBA MVP, there would have been outrage in the Bay.
But the media got it right.
James Harden had a phenomenal season; he made an average team a good one. Curry, on the other hand, made his team go from good to great. Without Curry on the floor, the Warriors were not as effective. He took total control of his team.
May 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Trophy for the KIA Most Valuable Player Award for Stephen Curry at Oakland Convention Center. Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Klay Thompson had a 37-point quarter this year and it was extremely impressive. Green cemented himself as one of the best role players in the league, if not the best. But make no mistake about it; the team goes as far as Curry takes them. He helped lead them to a franchise record 67-win season.
Curry could have easily caused drama in the locker room when the front office canned the coach he loved in Mark Jackson. Instead, he embraced the change and become close to Steve Kerr. His leadership helped the locker room stay intact when they faced adversity, losing a heartbreaking Game 7 last season.
He played FIBA over the summer with Thompson and assisted them by bringing the Gold Medal to the United States. Curry and Thompson spent time together with some of the best players in the world. Their relationship grew on and off the court, resulting in better chemistry for this successful season.
While on the topic of off the court, you can’t think of many players in the league that carry themselves the way Curry does. Kevin Durant was a player that came to mind last season. When Durant won MVP, he gave one of the most memorable speeches in recent memory. “You the real MVP,” is a quote that is still used often today.
However, with Durant being sidelined for most of the season and his newfound bitterness towards the media, it seems like Curry is the poster boy for humble superstars in the league.
Curry honored Deah Barakat in the three-point shootout during All-Star Weekend. Despite all the attention that Curry was receiving, he heard about the tragic incident about the young Muslim fan of his and a couple of his loved ones. He communicated with the Barakat family and brought attention to the unfortunate situation. Curry ended up winning the contest to help solidify his place among the best shooters of all-time. (yeah, like he needed that).
Curry’s teammates love him and are quick to his defense. Harden was suspended this season for kicking LeBron James in the groin. For as good as Harden is, seldom do you see an MVP get punished by the league and doing something uncalled for like that.
The former Davidson star is also one of the few superstars in the league that rarely flops. Harden, James, and Chris Paul have all become notorious for their flopping and non-stop complaints to the officials during games. All of those guys get to the free-throw line more than Curry does. Yes, they do attack the rim more, but Curry gets hacked a good amount of times per game and does not get the superstar love you would expect. Any objective basketball fan will notice this if they watch enough Warriors’ games.
May 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry speaks after receiving the MVP award. Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Curry’s popularity erupted this season, too. He led the NBA in votes to start in the All-Star game in Madison Square Garden and was leading the league in jersey sales for half of the season. He also launched his first signature shoe, the Curry One. His sponsorships with Under Armour and Express are just signs of many more to come.
The Baby-Faced Assassin is the most entertaining player in the league. No player in the entire league has been on Vine more this season than Steph Curry. Nobody. From ankle breakers to making three-pointers that look like they have no chance of even hitting the rim, Curry has done it all this season. LeBron James is still the best player in the world, but Curry is closing the gap.
His stats weren’t off the charts, but that’s what happens when you help your team play exceptionally well and rest for nearly 20 fourth quarters this year. It’s no question; he is the most valuable player to his team right now.
The NBA needs an MVP like Steph Curry.
He’s media-friendly, a great role model, an underdog, and simply the best player on the league’s best team.
With the National Football League going through many off the field issues and with Major League Baseball losing interest due to the slower pace of games, the NBA can continue to have the most star power.
LeBron James has been that guy for the league during the past decade. With basketball being more perimeter-orientated, it could be time to pass the torch. There would be no one better to give it to than the increasingly popular best shooter of all-time.
You can’t dislike Stephen Curry. Everything about his game and the way that he carries himself screams MVP.
Adam Silver said it best in February.
“I also think he’s a player of great character. He’s the kind of player commissioners dream about.”
He can pinch himself. Curry is the real deal and he is here for the long haul.
Stephen Curry is the ideal Most Valuable Player for the NBA.
And for the record, this might not be the last time this year that you hear the words “MVP” and “Stephen Curry” associated with each other.