Although some people may be hesitant to label Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry a point guard considering he's the greatest shooter in basketball history, he is inarguably one of the best players ever for his size. Despite being just 6 feet 2 inches, Curry has transformed the sport, but if it was up to Charles Barkley, he said he would pick Isiah Thomas over Curry if he had to make a decision between the two similarly sized players.
Curry and Thomas overcame the size disadvantages they often faced, with Curry using his spectacular shooting, while Thomas was a traditional point guard, averaging 21.2 points and 13.9 assists per game at his peak. Possibly because of those extraordinary point-guard skills, Barkley, who played for many years against Thomas and his “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons, said he could never pick anyone over Thomas.
“I feel bad for Isiah because he’s the best little man ever, until Steph Curry,” Barkley said on the Dan Patrick Show. “He never probably got the credit or respect that he deserved, and so I feel bad about it. I got nothing but respect for Isiah because like I said, he’s the best little [player] until Steph Curry came along, and I'll be honest with you, if I was in a game, if I had to choose — and I love Steph Curry and I know people gonna go on the internet because they ain’t got no life — if I had to choose between Steph Curry and Isiah, I’d probably go with Isiah in a scenario. But I love Steph, I love Isiah. But if I had one guy, if I had to choose between those two, I’m not gonna ever choose against Isiah.”
Stephen Curry vs. Isiah Thomas – By the numbers
Stephen Curry and Isiah Thomas are undeniable NBA legends. They each won multiple championships, and unless Curry plays elsewhere sometime over the next few seasons, they will have both also spent their entire careers as a member of one franchise. Additionally, any comparison is not truly fair considering the many changes in play from Thomas' prime in the 1980s to the 2010s and 2020s when Curry lit up NBA defenses with his three-point sharpshooting. But it could be interesting to analyze each player's stats and accolades, so let's do that.
As far as individual trophies and accomplishments go, Curry stands out. While he has two fewer All-Star selections than Thomas, he has two NBA MVPs (and is the only unanimous winner ever so far) and has been named to an All-NBA first or second teams eight times, compared to Thomas' five. They each have one Finals MVP award, with Thomas earning it in Detroit's second straight championship, while Curry finally got his in 2022 as part of the Warriors' fourth title in eight years.
When it comes to stats, as mentioned earlier, they played completely different styles in completely different eras. Of course, Curry, the historic perimeter threat, has the edge in scoring (24.8 points vs. Thomas' 19.2) and Thomas, the classic point guard, went above and beyond in terms of playmaking (9.3 assists vs. Curry's 6.4).
Whether one picks Curry or Thomas in a hypothetical would likely center on the fit and needs of a specific team. While neither would be a bad choice at all, Curry would certainly not thrive in a primary facilitator role like Thomas, just as a shooting-heavy role in which Curry has excelled would not suit Isiah. Regardless, Barkley is right in that they are two of the greatest players for their size and should be recognized as such.
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