For the past two seasons, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has done things on the court that no player has before him has. He's a transcendent three-point shooter that, at times, has looked unstoppable offensively on the level of players like Jordan, O'Neal and Chamberlain. Curry even draws a little ire from grumpy legends of the past—the typical response from people who simply don't know how to explain what they're witnessing.
This season, Curry put together one of the finest regular season individual campaigns in NBA history. The 28-year-old led the league in scoring (30.1 ppg), three-pointers made (an NBA-record 402), free throw percentage (90.8) and steals (2.14 spg). He shot a career-high 50.4 percent from the field, the NBA's highest mark among guards, and made a second-best 45.4 percent from three-point range. Additionally, Curry became the seventh player in NBA history to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line. The icing on the cake? The Warriors broke the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' record for wins in a season after going 73-9.
Despite all of this, Curry and the Warriors find themselves on the ropes, down 3-1 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. More than ever, the Dubs will need big performances from the back-to-back MVP—and he's fully capable of turning things around. Through just seven seasons, the sharpshooter has racked up enough memorable outings to last a career and more. From his early says as a member of Nike, to his rise as an Under Armour signature athlete, here's a rundown of Curry's 10 greatest performances, and the sneakers he wore in each game.
20. Versus Washington Wizards
When: February 3, 2016
Where: Verizon Center
Stats: 51 Points (11-of-15 3P), 7 Rebounds, 2 Assists
Score: Warriors 134, Wizards 121
Shoe: Under Armour Curry Two "BHM"
Curry knocked down 11 three-pointers to overcome a 41-points/10-assist outing from fellow point guard John Wall.
19.
18. Versus Los Angeles Lakers
When: April 12, 2013
Where: Staples Center
Stats: 47 Points (9-of-15 3P), 6 Rebounds, 9 Assists
Score: Lakers 118, Warriors 116
Shoe: Nike Hyperfuse 2012 PE
The matchup most young stars wanted during this era—Kobe Bryant at Staples Center. Los Angeles edged out the victory in this one, but Curry made a statement with 47 points.
17.
16. Versus Orlando Magic
When: February 25, 2016
Where: Amway Center
Stats: 51 Points (10-of-15 3P), 7 Rebounds, 8 Assists
Score: Warriors 130, Magic 114
Shoe: Under Armour Curry Two "Haight Street"
By hitting at least one three-pointer in this game (he hit 10), Curry set a new record by making one for the 128th consecutive game, the longest streak in league history.
15.
14. Versus Dallas Mavericks
When: February 4, 2015
Where: Oracle Arena
Stats: 51 Points (10-of-16 3P), 4 Rebounds, 4 Assists
Score: Warriors 128, Mavericks 114
Shoe: Under Armour Curry One "Golf"
The best big scoring games are the ones that are needed. Behind Curry's 51, the Warriors erased a 22-point deficit to pick up the comeback victory.
13.
12. Versus Los Angeles Clippers
When: February 10, 2010
Where: Oracle Arena
Stats: 36 Points (11-of-13 3P), 10 Rebounds, 13 Assists
Score: Warriors 132, Clippers 102
Shoe: Nike Hyperdunk
The "Baby Faced Assassin" notched his first career triple-double in a big win against the Clippers. Before the game, Curry thanked fans for sticking by the team despite early struggles—how times have changed.
11.
10. Versus Portland Trail Blazers
When: May 9, 2016
Where: Moda Center
Stats: 40 Points (5-of-16 3P), 9 Rebounds, 8 Assists
Score: Warriors 132, Trail Blazers 125
Shoe: Under Armour Curry 2.5 "Warriors"
With "only" 40 points and a less-than-stellar night from three, but fresh off a sprained MCL, Curry poured in an NBA record 17 points in overtime to help the Warriors seize control of the playoff series.
9.
8. Versus Memphis Grizzlies
When: April 13, 2016
Where: Oracle Arena
Stats: 46 Points (10-of-19 3P), 4 Rebounds, 6 Assists
Score: Warriors 125, Grizzlies 104
Shoe: Under Armour Curry 2.5 "Warriors"
Among the many milestones that were achieved in this game, the Golden State Warriors broke the Chicago Bulls' record for wins in a season, and Curry pushed his three-pointers in a season mark to 402.
7.
6. Versus Oklahoma City Thunder
When: February 27, 2016
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena
Stats: 46 Points (12-of-16 3P), 3 Rebounds, 6 Assists
Score: Warriors 121, Thunder 118
Shoe: Under Armour Curry Two PE
In addition to tying the NBA record for three-pointers made in a game, Curry stunned the Thunder with an insane pull-up 38-footer to pull out the win in overtime.
5.
4. Versus New Orleans Pelicans
When: October 31, 2015
Where: Smoothie King Center
Stats: 53 Points (8-of-14 3P), 4 Rebounds, 9 Assists
Score: Warriors 134, Pelicans 120
Shoe: Under Armour Curry Two "Forged Iron"
In what was a pretty lackluster effort from the Warriors against a team they should have beaten soundly, Curry rescued the team with a season-high scoring output.
3.
2. Versus New York Knicks
When: February 27, 2013
Where: Madison Square Garden
Stats: 54 Points (11-of-13 3P), 6 Rebounds, 7 Assists
Score: Knicks 109, Warriors 104
Shoe: Nike Hyperfuse 2012 PE
If there was a moment that marked Curry's arrival, this was it. At the Mecca, with all eyes on him, Curry turned in a career-best performance with the swagger of the transcendent star he'd become in later seasons.