It can be argued that Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry is currently in the midst of the best offensive stretches of his career, averaging 35.3 points per game over the last 8 games, and that play has him in the MVP conversation this season.
Curry, 32, put in another solid performance when he dropped 40 points in a 111-105 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday, and as far as his take on being included in this seasons’ MVP conversation, Curry prefers to let his game do all the talking.
“The game speaks for itself,” Curry said, according to ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “Those two [MVP] years (2014-15 and 2015-16) is the exact same kind of conversation. Obviously, that’s an amazing accomplishment, and being in that conversation with all that we’ve been through these last two years, that means something. Those narratives make themselves as you go throughout the season, and my job is obviously just be at the level that I expect to be, and usually that means you’re at the top at the end of the season.
“I really try not to get distracted by that because it kind of taints the moment. And really right now, if I’m doing my job, then I’ll be there at the end of the season, and that will take care of itself.”
“It is routine, which is the crazy part of it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Curry’s play of late. “You just come to expect it. And these 3s that he hits when there’s just nothing there offensively and he just uses his dribble to free himself up, not exactly with a ton of space, just a few inches of space, and then he rises up and you expect every single one of them to go in. It’s kind of crazy. He’s in a really good groove.”
Kerr was asked about Curry being in the MVP conversation this season.
“I think so,” Kerr said. “How could he not be? He’s otherworldly.”
Curry was asked about his thoughts regarding a team’s win-loss record being a factor in the MVP discussion.
“It always has and it always will,” Curry said. “You can always make judgments based on what you value and what you see and numbers and wins and losses and the eye test and all that type of stuff. It’s kind of what makes the beauty of that award in general because everybody has a different take on what it means. Sometimes the goalposts do change, though, for sure. So it’s just a matter of doing my job, and if that means people want to put me in that conversation or any of the other guys, then that’s amazing. If not, it’s not going to change how I approach the game.”
Curry also acknowledged that this current stretch of production is the best stretch of his legendary career.
“100 percent,” Curry said. “But it’s all about what’s happening now. I don’t compare it to really anything in terms of what has happened in the past. … I’ve been saying it for a while, I feel confident and strong and in rhythm, and it’s a good feeling and I want to keep getting better. That’s the goal.”
