Isiah Thomas throws major shade at Steph Curry after drawing parallels for back-to-back championships
Isiah Thomas and Steph Curry are two of the best players to ever play basketball despite their diminutive frames. “Zeke” was the leader of the Detroit Pistons that won back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. “Chef Curry” is listed as six-foot-two but is widely considered as the greatest shooter in NBA history and a four-time champ.
An X, formerly Twitter, user named Daniel O’Brien recognized the greatness of both and posted:
“*By my count*, in the past 40 years, there have only been 2 NBA champions who are 6'3" & under to be the indisputable best player on their team:
“Isiah Thomas in 1989 & 1990
“Steph Curry in 2015 & 2022”
Isiah Thomas responded by emphasizing a point that elevates him over Steph Curry:
“Let it be known ONLY ONE led his team to back2back championships as the team leading scorer and the team leader in assist.”
In the Detroit Pistons 'first championship during the 1988-89 season, the “Bad Boys” were led by Adrian Dantley’s 18.4 points per game.
Dantley, though, saw action just 42 times, while Thomas played 80 games and averaged 18.2 PPG. “Zeke” was unquestionably the team’s best passer, putting up 8.3 dimes per contest.
In the playoffs, Thomas did lead the Pistons in both categories, norming 18.2 PPG and 8.3 APG on their way to the 1989 NBA Finals. In the championship round against Magic Johnson’s Lakers, Thomas helped Detroit to its first franchise championship, averaging 21.3 points, 7.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Joe Dumars, who won NBA Finals MVP, had a 27.3-point and 6.0-assist performance throughout the series.
The next season, Isiah Thomas sat atop the Detroit Pistons’ points and assists ladder. He averaged 18.4 PPG and 9.4 APG in the regular season. It was the same story in the playoffs and eventually in the 1990 NBA Finals where Thomas had a 27.6-point and 7.0-assist series. The 12x All-Star finally won his only finals MVP as the Pistons beat the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 in the title round.
Meanwhile, Steph Curry averaged 23.8 PPG and 7.7 APG during the 2014-15 season. He was even deadlier in the playoffs, putting up 28.3 PPG and 6.4 APG. Curry kept his place in the totem pole of both categories in the 2015 NBA Finals. He averaged 26.0 PPG and 6.3 APG in Golden State’s 4-2 win over LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers.
In 2022, Curry had a team-best 25.5 PPG but his 6.3 APG ranked just second to Draymond Green’s 7.0 APG. The trend continued in the playoffs where “Chef Curry” averaged 27.4 PPG and 5.9 APG. Green’s 6.3 APG again topped Curry’s line. In the 2022 championship against the Boston Celtics, the two maintained their standings in both categories.
Steph Curry won his only NBA Finals MVP by averaging 31.2 points and dishing out 6.0 assists per game, while Draymond Green contributed 6.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 6.2 APG.
Steph Curry has overtaken Isiah Thomas in GOAT point guard discussions
Before Steph Curry became a household name, GOAT point guard talks usually included Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas and Oscar Robertson.
Curry’s ascension as perhaps the best shooter to play the game has vaulted him past Thomas and Robertson. The Golden State Warriors point guard’s impact on how the game has been played has also changed the narrative around such talks.
When the GOAT point guard topic is mentioned, it has now become a two-way race between the “Showtime” great and the Dubs’ franchise cornerstone. Thomas remains great in the eyes of fans but not popularly in the best point guard to play in the NBA talks.