NBA.com conducted its annual General Manager survey and Stephen Curry was named the NBA’s best leader, ‘clutch time’ scorer, shooter and off-ball mover. Entering his 16th NBA season, Curry is the NBA’s reigning Clutch Player of the Year and hit several clutch baskets to help the United States win Olympic Gold in Paris this summer. In 2023-24, he led the league in made 3-pointers (357) with the third-highest single-season mark in NBA history.
Read below for each of Curry’s first place nominations.
Which player is the best leader?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 33%
T-2. Jalen Brunson, New York – 23%
T-2. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 23%
Curry edged out Lakers’ forward LeBron James and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson as the NBA’s best leader, according to league executives. The Warriors have had a winning record in 11 of the last 12 seasons with Curry and their lone losing campaign (2019-20) was a year in which he played just five games. Curry has led the team to four NBA championships in his tenure and General Manager Mike Dunleavy referred to him as the “greatest face of a franchise in sports.”
Which player would you want taking a shot with the game on the line?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 40%
2. Kevin Durant, Phoenix – 23%
3. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 10%
Curry led the NBA in clutch points (189), made field goals (59) and made 3-pointers (32) last season. The league defines’ clutch time’ as the last five minutes of a game in which the score is within five points. Curry also hit two game-winning shots last season — a buzzer-beating layup to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Play-In Tournament and a 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left to defeat the Phoenix Suns. He has finished first in this poll for three straight seasons and seven of the last 10.
Which player is the best pure shooter?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 87%
» Also receiving votes: Kevin Durant, Phoenix; Luke Kennard, Memphis; Trey Murphy III, New Orleans; Klay Thompson, Dallas
Curry is the NBA’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers and has held the crown of ‘league’s best shooter’ according to NBA GMs for 11 consecutive seasons. Curry first led the league in made threes in the 2012-13 season and has five of the top-six shooting seasons in NBA history.
Which player is the best at moving without the ball?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 83%
» Also receiving votes: Desmond Bane, Memphis; Mikal Bridges, New York; CJ McCollum, New Orleans; Duncan Robinson, Miami; Klay Thompson, Dallas
Gravity and off-ball movement have been a staple of Curry’s game throughout his career. Heading to this season, General Managers still believe he is the most significant threat without the ball in his hands in the league. His non-stop movement and the threat of his perimeter jumper are a lethal combination for opposing defenses to deal with.