Idols of the Past and Present

Stephen Curry is present day Michael Jordan?

Not saying he is as good as Mike or even close to him.

The impact is similar based off children looking up to both players. Only difference is that Curry is doing it in a generation of more technology and social medias quickly evolving the sport.

On Friday, December 11th^, the Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry scored 38 points against the Boston Celtics in double overtime in a nail-biter that extended their streak to 24 wins.

“I think Stephen Curry, for sure, is going to change what we see in players coming into this league,” Hall of famer Jerry West said. “All those little kids would want to look like him [and] play like him,” West said. “He doesn’t have a big body, he’s not the most incredible athlete we have, and he plays the game with finesse.”

Even though the Warriors streak ended Saturday night in a 108-95 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Warriors are 24-1 and looks to be at the top of their game early in the season.

Since winning the NBA championship, Stephen Curry is leading the league in scoring. He averages 31.6 points a game. The 27-year-old Curry is revolutionizing the game of basketball before our own eyes in a perimeter-oriented league.

I decided to speak out to Anthony Morgan, Plano West basketball coach, about his style of basketball that he teaches his kids and the direction he feels basketball is heading. Morgan coached guys like Mickey Mitchell, DJ Hogg, and Tyler Davis. Last season, Plano West won the UIL 6A basketball championship against Clear Lake 56-54.

Last season, Plano West had only one player under 6-foot. The height is attractively tall for a high school team who only lost five games last season. This team displays excellence in multiple ways with their up-tempo style and feeding down low.

“Basketball is slowly moving away from the big post game to taller more skilled guard and wing play,” Morgan said. “Offenses are not necessarily changing; the players are more skilled and athletic.”

“We are accustomed to the big game, High Low with solid guard play,” Morgan continued. “My basketball style is Flow offense, similar to the Dallas Mavericks style with quick hitters. I believe in up tempo and man to man defense with ball pressure.”

In Morgan’s knowledge, he doesn’t think the game is changing quite yet. He just believe that basketball players now are more skilled than before at a younger age.

During the Michael Jordan era with the Chicago Bulls, kids grew up watching him and modeled their games just like him. Reason #1: The NBA never had a player like Mike before. Jordan was idolized by many players and fans. His athletic shoes and accessories continue to soar in profits today. Unfortunately, every kid cannot be 6-foot-6. Near Jordan’s retirement, there were more scoring guards under 6-foot-6. For example, Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, Baron Davis, Steve Francis, Dwayne Wade, and Gilbert Arenas just to name a few. Guys like Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant were fortunate enough to have similar size to Jordan. The players, who arose after the Jordan era, grew up watching the best player to ever play on this planet.

The NBA seemed to be prepared for Curry’s lights out shooting. Curry entered the league in 2009 during the LeBron James, Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Carmelo Anthony fiasco. The league was dominated by shooting guards and forwards at the time despite Derrick Rose’s MVP season being the last dominance by a point guard.

“Curry is going to create remarkably a good shooting NBA five years from now,” Colin Cowherd said. “The league is making it more perimeter. Kids 12, 13 and 14 years old will mimic his game.”

For those growing up having a younger sibling, that younger sibling usually mimics everything their older brother or sister does. Some of the habits include, wearing the same clothes, playing the same sports, and doing the same daily routines. In a nut shell, kids become what they see.

The impact sports has on America is tremendous. Even if someone misses a game, there are usually highlights or video clips on Twitter, Instagram, Vine, and etc. With that being said, the hot topic right now hands down is Curry. From the Warriors winning the championship last season, to them being 19-0, America are accustomed to watching Warriors games or at least hear about what is going on.

Curry has to be the “coolest” basketball player on the planet right now. He has a stunning wife, cute baby girl, beautiful family, son of Dell Curry, and the best shooter to ever live. Let’s not overlook that he is only 6-foot-3 in stature. He is becoming an American Idol similar to Jordan.

We are now witnessing a new trend of basketball favoring three point shooters since the game is a perimeter league. In the 90’s era, the game was played inside out. If this is the transition, the 2015 NBA champions, Warriors, style of play benefits from the NBA rules of modern basketball.