Nick Young recently shared a bold opinion. The former Warriors player took to X to suggest that Kyrie Irving is a better player than Stephen Curry and claimed that people are “scared” to admit it.
He compared the debate to the Michael Jordan versus Kobe Bryant argument, saying that Bryant was actually better than Jordan but didn’t get the recognition.
Young’s post confused many, but it was clarified by some of the sharpest minds on X.
Back in 2016, the Curry versus Irving debate gained traction after Irving outplayed Curry in their NBA Finals matchup. Over the seven games, Irving had better averages in points (27.1 to 22.6), assists (3.9 to 3.7), and steals (2.1 to 0.9), and shot better percentages from the field (.468 to .403) and from three-point range (.405 to .400). Irving’s crucial shot helped the Cavaliers come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the championship, despite Curry and the Warriors struggling to finish their record-breaking 73-9 regular season.
However, as of 2024, Irving is not on the same level as Curry, no matter what metrics or achievements Young or others might reference.
Curry has three more NBA championships, six more All-NBA selections, two more MVP awards, one more Finals MVP, one more All-Star selection, over 6,000 more career points, and nearly 2,000 more career assists.
Additionally, Curry is widely considered one of the top two point guards of all time and is featured on many all-time greats lists.
After winning his fourth NBA title in 2022, Reggie Miller said Curry had “kicked down the door” and earned his place among the greatest players. Miller even suggested that Curry had surpassed legends like Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Wilt Chamberlain.
In contrast, Irving had a disappointing performance in the 2024 NBA Finals, averaging 19.8 points and shooting .414 from the field and .276 from three-point range.
Perhaps Young has conveniently forgotten this series.
