The late great Jerry West was working as an executive for the Golden State Warriors when Stephen Curry hit his stride in the NBA.
At that point, West had already seen and worked with a wide array of talented players such as Kobe Bryant , Shaquille O'Neal and Pau Gasol , among others. However, West believed that Curry was different.
For him, it was easy to see that Curry possesses a skill set that nobody has seen before. West was dumbfounded by the fact that Curry was built like a point guard but has the instinct of a shooting guard.
West was also in awe of how Curry could score from anywhere on the floor. In his eyes, the NBA wasn't ready for him just like how nobody was able to anticipate how great Kevin Durant was during his younger years.
"He's unique in a lot of ways and he kind of reminds me a little bit of a smaller Kevin Durant," West told Slam in 2014. "He's so much fun to watch. There are three or four players in the league I'd pay to see play and he is one of them."
Taking a quick trip down memory lane, Curry indeed took the NBA by storm. With his otherworldly shooting accuracy and incredible handles, Steph revolutionized modern-day basketball and started a new era with his distinct and never-before-seen style of play.
However, West noted that Curry's greatness doesn't begin and end with his scoring prowess and ball-handling skills. For West, Curry was also a true competitor on the court.
West reckoned that many don't notice that.
"The other thing I don't think people realize is what a great competitor he is," West added of Steph. "He was also raised really well by his parents; he's very grounded. He's a pleasure to be around."
In a separate discussion, West further raved about Curry's overall game . He mentioned that Curry's defense also deserves recognition, as well as how great Steph is even off the court.
During his playing years, West had the rare opportunity to play alongside his fellow all-time greats Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. From his standpoint, West was certain he would've loved to grab the chance to play alongside Curry if they were in the same era.
"Steph is, he's just a fantastic person. Oh my God, what a great guy," West once said of Curry. "And again, he's different than everyone thinks he is, he's a better all-around player than he gets credit for, he's really good. When you watch him now, at one time, I didn't think he was a good defender. I think he's a terrific defender. I mean, I would damn sure like to play with him."
"He'll pass the ball," he continued. "But he's got that unique skill that has changed the game a lot…Steph Curry, he will be here forever. And there will be somebody who comes along that will shoot the ball like him."
West's deep admiration for Curry's game meant a lot. It goes to show you how legends like West appreciated the modern-day game changers like Steph, perhaps because they had a simmilar impact during their playing days.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
