It's not even training camp and an NBA legend already revived disrespect for Curry

The Golden State Warriors are entering the 2025-26 NBA season with significant attention on whether they can assemble a championship-caliber team around Stephen Curry, one of the league's all-time greats. This focus comes amid ongoing debates about Curry's legacy and the respect he receives from analysts and former players.

Throughout his career, Curry has faced persistent disrespect regarding his impact on basketball and his historical ranking among NBA elites. NBA legend Scottie Pippen recently contributed to this criticism by questioning how Curry's game would translate to different eras, specifically comparing the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls to the 2016-17 Warriors in an interview with MARCA. Pippen argued that Curry's effectiveness depends on modern rules, suggesting that under the physical, less perimeter-oriented rules of the 1990s, Curry would not perform as well, as defenses would be more restrictive.

In response, the article counters Pippen's claims by highlighting Curry's demonstrated ability to excel despite physical defenses, such as in playoff series against teams like the Houston Rockets, which are noted for their physicality in today's game. It emphasizes that Curry's off-ball movement and scoring skills are not solely reliant on modern rule advantages, pointing out that he ranked outside the top 30 in free-throw attempts per game last season and maintained a high mid-range shooting percentage of 56.8%.

The piece concludes that while Curry's playing style might differ in another era, reducing his talent to mere catch-and-shoot plays overlooks his profound impact and versatility. It asserts that dismissing Curry's greatness is an oversimplification, and despite such rhetoric, his success and contributions to the league remain undeniable.