Is this Stephen Curry’s best season yet?

Stephen Curry was in another world at the start of the 2021-22 season.

If there was an MVP awarded in the first quarter of the season, the trophy would certainly have Curry’s name engraved on it. But is he having his best season for the Warriors?

Let’s take a closer look.

NBA League Pass: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7 days free trial)

2015-16: Stephen Curry becomes Thanos

When looking back at Wardell Stephen Curry II’s career, the 2015-16 season is undoubtedly what many consider his best season ever. It’s hard to imagine Curry being able to do that again – it’s Thanos Curry.

That season Curry played so well that it was said he broke the basketball game.

The Warriors won a record 73 games and Curry was named the unanimous MVP. In 79 games, he is average 30.1 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds. He made more than half of the goalscoring runs that season and connected with 45.4% of the 11.2 3-pointers per game. He has taken more than 90% of his free throws, joining the exclusive 50/40/90 club.

Curry is the only player in NBA history to average 30 points per game 50-40-90 all season.

His Player Performance Index (PER) for that season was 31.5 – the best for a keeper since Michael Jordan’s 1990-91 season. For comparison, when the Bulls won 72 games in 1996, Jordan had a PER of 29.4.

In a nutshell, Steph has all of her Infinity Stones to power her Infinity Gauntlet.

“He’s made nuclear preparations,” Shaun Livingston to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “Shot more than 30 yards. Shot down 3v1 and jumped from deep. I just remember feeling – I was in the tournament, like my 12th year – I watched Kobe [Bryant], I saw Dirk [Nowitzki] go away, I saw Gilbert [Arenas], like, how people went and how it was, yoooooooo… I remember being in that feeling, in that mode. It was like Kobe Bryant when he played 20 games in a row and he did it game after game. “

THAN: Curry’s original MVP case on the rise

Curry won the scoring title during the 2015-16 season, but the Warriors lost in the NBA Finals to the Cavaliers that season, becoming the first team to take a 3-1 lead.

The following season, Kevin Durant arrived and Steph (willingly) took the backseat for a new arrival. His count drops when Durant is on the list. Then, when Durant left after the 2019 Finals and Klay Thompson was injured, Steph became a solo Splash Brother again. Summary. A hand injury forced him to miss 58 consecutive games in the 2019-20 season and it wasn’t long before Steph was back doing the same things as Steph.

2021-22: Blast from the past

After his second scoring title in 2020-21, Curry, now in his 13th season in the league, seems to be as good as ever – or maybe even better.

The Warriors currently hold a league-best 16-2 record to top the Western Conference, with Curry scoring 28.2 points, 6.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game in the opening 18 games. first of the season while knocking out 41.8% 12.9 of his 3 points per game – he actually has and is doing, 3s more than his 2015-16 season.

Against the Cavaliers last week, he scored his 38th career game with nine or more 3s in a game. For reference, No other player has more than 10. He’s on track to pass 400 3s for the season, broke his own previous record.

THAN: Curry picks different teams without touching the ball

Where Curry has improved this season is in defence. Considered one of his weak points during the Warriors’ heyday, Curry currently ranks in the top 20 of the league in both steals and saves. Curry is also stronger than ever and has added significant muscle to his frame since the 2015-16 season.

“I have always been a late bloomer at every level,” Curry said. “So it was a conscious effort to take every advantage of the season, get bigger, get in better shape.”

Earlier this year, teammate Draymond Green spoke to The Athletic on Curry’s defense improvement.

“What he did (do) on that side of the ball was unbelievable,” said Green. [expletive] strong now. They can’t post him anymore. He got to the side much quicker. And most importantly, he’s not hitting every game anymore. So his growth on that side of the ball (very significant). But because he attacks so well, nobody talks about it. His development on that side is crazy. ”

Golden State currently has the best defense in the NBA, and while Curry may not have earned any defensive titles, that front of his is no longer a weakness.

THAN: No mistake goes unnoticed by Curry and Green

Is this Stephen Curry’s best season yet?

If we look at Curry’s overall game now, he’s a much more complete player than he was in 2015-16 when we take into account both ends of the ring.

What he did that season probably won’t be repeated again – not by Steph or anyone else. When you factor in the numbers, accolades, and the Warriors’ total dominance over that season – without winning a championship – then by numbers, it would have been his greatest season ever. now.

What makes this season different is that it may not be his best season statistically, but it may just be his most valuable. Curry is making staggering numbers without Thompson and James Wiseman. Without Curry, the Warriors certainly wouldn’t be the strongest team in the league.

If the MVP award is indeed given to the most valuable player, Curry is well on his way to adding a third to his title.