SAN FRANCISCO – Stephen Curry is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Golden State Warriors, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s previous record of 17,783. Curry’s record basket came on a lead, with 1:40 left in the first quarter of Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Needing just 19 to overtake Chamberlain, Curry finished with 21 points in the first quarter, receiving congratulations from teammates and coaches after heading to the bench at the end of the quarter.
He didn’t stop here. Curry would go on to finish the night with 53 points in Golden State’s 116-107 victory, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to record three seasons with three or more 50-point games.
“It’s just an incredible feat,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before Monday’s game of Curry eclipsing Chamberlain. “Wilt’s passage in any statistic is somewhat remarkable, because his name is everywhere in the NBA record books. So the fact that Steph is about to break the record is incredible and obviously a proof of what he has done here in his 12 years, what an impact he has made ”.
The 33-year-old Curry was named No. 7 in the 2009 draft and set records during his 12-year tenure with the Warriors since then. In the days leading up to the record basket, he couldn’t even believe he was approaching Chamberlain’s passage into Warriors history, calling it “a pretty significant milestone.”
“Honestly, that’s surreal,” Curry said recently. “I don’t know how many years he played here, but he got a lot of buckets. Obviously, a legend who stays in the whole league, but who obviously wears the Warriors uniform and has been here my whole career, is pretty crazy. So I a few more points to be gained, we hope he gains something in this process, but it is a wild thought in general “.
Greatness. pic.twitter.com/Pb8nqWZtFR
– Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 13, 2021
In addition to his performance on the field, what has always remained with the members of the organization – and throughout the league – is how Curry’s shooting ability has changed the game. Curry, who came in Monday night with a 43.3-yard shooting percentage, created a wave of younger players at every level, shooting from greater distances than ever before, because it was cool. to take photos of the entire surface.
“I don’t know if breaking this record really tells the story,” Kerr said. “Because what Steph brings goes far beyond points. It’s the impact on his teammates, on the community, on the organization, on the style of play. How unique he is as an individual; he changed the game. He inspired all the young NBA goalkeepers who came “He has changed the game – as wonderful as this achievement is, passing Wilt is just one of many for Steph.”
In an era defined by the player’s movement, Curry’s latest achievement is even more impressive to many in the game, as he stayed with the Warriors while repeatedly saying he wanted to wear a single T-shirt during his career. its.
“Maybe Steph should be glad Wilt was part of the player’s move, otherwise he would never have passed Wilt,” Kerr said. “But I think it’s very refreshing when you see a guy like Dirk Nowitzki or Kobe Bryant or now Steph, maybe Klay, hopefully Draymond, all those guys, when you see players with a single franchise for their entire careers, it’s really special.”
A note that also hit former teammate and current Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant.
“The amount of time it takes, I knew it was coming,” Durant said. “And we know that he breaks records is something that for me he feels is guaranteed by the way he plays. It was just a matter of time, and to see him doing everything in one team is special.”
Kerr noted a recent trip to play for the Mavericks highlighted the impact Curry had on the Warriors.
“When you play in Dallas now, when you look at the floor, there’s a silhouette of Dirk drawing his signature on each end of the floor,” Kerr said. “And I like that, I thought it was a great idea from the Mavericks. It’s a great way to honor Dirk and remember his legacy. I imagine there will be something like this here. Maybe a picture of Steph’s voice or something. “
While it’s a safe bet that the Warriors will offer a similar tribute on the line, Curry agreed that it’s a good thing Chamberlain didn’t play at the time.
“I’m glad the 3-point line wasn’t around him,” Curry said. “Because then I wouldn’t have had time to break it. He would have probably realized that too. I’m glad I played in that era, that’s what I said.”