Steph Curry should be the first ever unanimous NBA MVP — he’s been that good. So good in fact that he’s improved upon his MVP season a year ago so much he also should be recognized as the league’s Most Improved player.
Don’t believe me? That’s fine. The numbers tell the story better than I ever could. Curry’s 31.46 PER this season would be eighth best all-time with Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and LeBron James the only men to ever have a better year. But the PER doesn’t tell the entire story. Here is the best numerical data that fortifies the case we just witnessed the best offensive season ever since the introduction of the three-point shot, his weapon of choice. (Curry has shot a higher volume of threes more efficiently than anyone before.)
| Three-pointers made in NBA history (single season) |
|
|
| Player |
Year |
Three-pointers made |
| Stephen Curry |
2015-16 |
402 |
| Stephen Curry |
2014-15 |
286 |
| Klay Thompson |
2015-16 |
276 |
| Stephen Curry |
2012-13 |
272 |
| Ray Allen |
2005-06 |
269 |
| Dennis Scott |
1995-96 |
267 |
| Stephen Curry |
2013-14 |
261 |
| Curry’s last three years |
|
|
| Year |
Made 3’s |
3P% |
| 2015-16 |
402 |
45.4 |
| 2014-15 |
286 |
44.3 |
| 2013-14 |
261 |
42.4 |
Curry broke his record for three-pointers by more than 40 per cent.
The last two years Curry broke the single-season record for three-pointers made.
When the three-point line was introduced in 1979 it took 15 years until a team hit more than 400. The Rockets hit 400-plus threes with 429 in 1993-94.
Curry made a three in all 79 games he played. Before Curry, no player has ever played more than 22 games and made a three in each game in a season.
Curry has a record 152 straight games with a three-pointer made. Kyle Korver previously had the record at 127.
This season Curry had 16 games with eight-plus three-pointers. No player has that many in a career.
On Feb. 27 at Oklahoma City, Curry hit 12 three-pointers to tie Kobe Bryant and Donyell Marshall for most in a game.
Curry led the league with the most 10-plus three-pointer games. Curry had four; the rest of the NBA combined had three.
Curry had nine quarters this season with at least five made threes; the rest of the players in the NBA combined had 12.
Curry’s case for MVP and MIP
Curry’s 30.1 points per game is 6.3 points higher than his average of 23.8 last year. That is the largest jump by an MVP since Larry Bird jumped 4.5 points in 1984-85.
Curry improved in every major statistical category other than assists.
He also plays a well-rounded game
Curry led the NBA in steals with 2.14.
Curry became one of just six players all-time to average 30-plus points and two-plus steals, joining Jordan, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Rick Barry.
Only Curry and Kawhi Leonard averaged 20-plus points and five rebounds per game while shooting over 40 per cent on threes this season.
Overall he’s just a scoring machine
Curry became one of 12 players to average 30 points and shoot 50 per cent from the field, joining Chamberlain (six times), Jordan (five times), Adrian Dantley (four times) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (three times).
Curry became the first guard to average 30 points and shoot 50 per cent from the floor since Jordan did it in 1991-92.
Curry became the seventh player to shoot 50 per cent from the field, 40 per cent from three and 90 per cent from the free-throw line.
Curry not only shot 50-40-90, but he did so with the most points per game (30.1) ever, surpassing Bird’s 29.9 in 1987-88.
Curry joined just Steve Kerr and Steve Nash (both on Golden State’s staff) as the only other players to shoot 50 per cent from the field, 45 per cent from three, and 90 per cent from the free-throw line.
Curry scored 40-plus points a league-leading 13 times.
Curry had 10 20-point quarters.
Curry’s 90.8 per cent free-throw shooting is the best in the NBA.
Not just record setting as a player
The Warriors beat the 1995-96 Bulls with a 73-9 record.
Golden State was 21-2 (.913) versus top-10 teams, the best record ever.
The Warriors are the first team ever to never lose two in a row.
Golden State set a record with 34 road wins.
Golden State was also the first team in NBA history not to lose to the same team twice.
Thanks to Curry, the Warriors are the first team to hit over 1,000 three-point shots with 1,077.
Oh and the scariest number of all, he’s just 28 years old and still has time to get better. But don’t take this season from Curry for granted, it is one of the best we’ve ever seen.
