Stephen Curry is the first-ever unanimous MVP, all-time leading three-point scorer and a four-time NBA champion and now, Finals MVP after leading the Golden State Warriors past the Boston Celtics. But what took the three-point maestro so long to get the Finals MVP?
Playing in arguably one of the greatest sides of all-time and the most dominant in the 2010s, Curry was at the forefront of all of these accolades gained by the Warriors in their successful period.
It really is shocking that it’s taken this long for Curry to win the Finals MVP. TIBS News takes a look at the performances that kept Curry waiting for this award in the past.
2015 – Andre Iguodala
Back in 2015, the Warriors faced LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers – who was back in his hometown and playing for the club that drafted him in 2003. The combination of an athletically peak James and a young and fearless Kyrie Irving, meant the task that laid ahead for the Warriors was a daunting one to say the least.
However, the emerging powerhouse from San Francisco weren’t going to lay down and let King James have his fairytale return to Cleveland. Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Curry – mixed with their run-and-gun style of offence – was as equally intimidating as James and Irving.
Golden State won the championship in six, with the final series scoring being 4-2 to Dub Nation.
In the Finals, Curry showed the world his tremendous shooting ability and all-round deadly offence – finishing the series averaging 26 points and being an offensive menace for the Cavaliers to deal with. These stat lines and crazy plays called for critics and pundits everywhere to campaign for Curry as Finals MVP, but the ‘Chef’ didn’t receive a single vote.
However, it was the rounded consistency and two-way excellence that gained Iguodala his first and only Finals MVP award. Although Curry and many others throughout the Warriors team outperformed ‘Iggy’ on the scoresheet, it was his play style that set him apart.
Iguodala averaged 16.3 points, four assists and just under six rebounds a game. These don’t seem like Finals MVP numbers, but the stats don’t show the full picture.
The forward was a defensive nuisance and paired with Green, the two of them did a good job of switching onto James and keeping him locked up for long periods of time as best as they could. Then Iguodala would have the fight to come off a 20-22 second defensive set, sprint the floor and knock down that consistent corner three.
Although Curry was the elegant swan on the surface, Iguodala was the legs kicking and keeping the team afloat. And it was good to see the NBA reward a player like this instead of just going off stats to decide the most valuable player of the Finals, as he really was that valuable to the championship victory of the Warriors in 2015.
2017 – Kevin Durant
The acquisition of Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016 was one of, if not, the biggest free agency pick-up of all time. Durant was playing in his first season at the Warriors and added his elite skill to the already stacked Golden State team.
Making his first appearance of his career, the former MVP went on to average 35 points, eight assists and five rebounds over a five-game series, which saw the Warriors ultimately defeat the Cavaliers once again 4-1.
Durant’s performance in the Finals was nothing short of perfection. Feeling like he was hitting every shot you watched him take and scoring over double-teams with ease. It was no doubt that ‘KD’ would be awarded the Finals MVP as long as the Warriors won the series.
With Durant added into the mix, Curry took somewhat of a back seat as he was no longer the main scorer for the team. Despite the offence being catered to Durant, the Warriors still played amazing team basketball and it was a beautiful thing to see big superstars working so well together with no ego.
Moreover, Curry would still put up remarkable numbers in the series averaging 26 points, just under 10 assists and eight rebounds.
These numbers trump Iguodala’s from 2015 by a mile, but the title of Finals MVP is to the player who had the most impact over the series, and this was Durant.
Although Curry was still an offensive menace scoring from anywhere on the court, Durant is 7ft tall and did almost everything Curry could do and more.
Curry had a great performance this series, but Durant was quite simply the better player.
2018 – Kevin Durant
A year later, the same match-up in the finals and the same Durant.
Absolutely demolishing the Cavaliers in the Finals, sweeping them 4-0, Durant was at the forefront offensively once again. Despite Durant’s numbers not looking as impressive as the previous year averaging 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, it was the ‘Slim Reaper’s’ ability to get hot and stay hot that allowed the Warriors to go on large runs and put the game out of reach early.
This series is memorable for two moments, the J.R Smith incident and the iconic dagger of a three hit by Durant in the dying embers of Game 3 to crush the dreams of Cavalier fans everywhere who believed they had a chance when the score wasn’t as big as it should have been.
This type of shot is what set Durant apart from Curry and other Warriors’ players in this series as he took the responsibility of taking these big shots and had the skill to nearly always make them.
Curry was no slouch this series either averaging 27 points, six assists and six rebounds, which was the best score line out of the other two. So why wasn’t Curry awarded the Finals MVP? Durant is simply too good at the game of basketball and makes it look easy with every shot he makes, which is a lot by the way!
However, Curry was a main factor for the Warriors picking up Durant and he wanted the 2014 MVP so the Warriors could win. The team’s unselfish offence combined with their offensive power means it’s no surprise the Finals ended in a sweep!
In conclusion…
So, why has Curry waited so long to win Finals MVP? He simply was outperformed, which is remarkable to say as he always played exceptionally well during the Finals and throughout the play-off run in all championships the Warriors have won.
All that matters now though is that he has this accolade to add to his achievements and has heavily beefed up his argument to retire as one of the GOATs (Greatest of All Time) of the game.
By Jamie O’Sullivan
