For reasons unknown, old-time NBA players and coaches seem to resent these small-ball playing, 2015-16 Golden State Warriors.
As a fan, I prefer a more physical brand of basketball like it was played in the 1980s over what the Warriors do as well, but I don’t harbor any resentment toward Stephen Curry.
Things change. And like it or not, the NBA has changed.
Curry seems to be on the receiving end of a ton of criticism lately from old-timers despite having one of the most amazing campaigns in NBA history. After his remarkable, game-winning shot on Saturday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors are 52-5 and appear to be destined to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls‘ 72-10 record, which currently stands as the best ever.
More evidence Stephen Curry is not human.
Posted by RantSports on Saturday, February 27, 2016
New York Knicks President Phil Jackson is the most recent basketball legend to seemingly undermine Curry. On Sunday, Jackson posted a tweet comparing Curry to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (aka Chris Jackson) who began his career with the Denver Nuggets in 1990.
Never seen anything like SCurry? Remind you of Chris Jackson/ Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who had a short but brilliant run in NBA?
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) February 28, 2016
Aside from perhaps size and playing style similarities, Abdul-Rauf and Curry have nothing in common. Abdul-Rauf never made an All-Star team in his nine-year career, while Curry is the best player on the planet as we speak and could possibly even be the best shooter in the history of basketball.
Jackson took to Twitter again on Monday, clarifying that he was in no way comparing the two players.
How does commenting on Rauf mean I’m comparing him to Curry?
Remind, yes, quick release, cross over, Yep, MVP, nope. Get a grip!— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) February 29, 2016
People will believe what they want to believe about this situation. To me, Jackson was 100 percent taking an indirect shot at Curry. Not only he is not a fan of the way the Warriors play, but keep in mind it’s his record as head coach of the aforementioned 1995-96 Bulls that Curry and the Warriors are chasing. It appears as if the Zen-Master was trying to get into Curry’s head.
