Steph Curry's 30 Greatest Plays

After nine years in the NBA, Steph Curry has already placed himself in the conversation of the all-time greats. Curry has revolutionized basketball with his jumper, and many say he's the greatest shooter to ever play the game. In honor of his 30th birthday, we ranked the 30 greatest plays of the two-time MVP's career

Steph Curry
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Photo by Noah Graham via Getty

Steph Curry

It seems like just yesterday we were the watching Baby-faced Assassin Stephen Curry light up the NCAA Tournament, putting the Davidson Wildcats on the map. Two NBA championships and league MVPs later, Steph Curry is viewed as a world icon and revolutionary player in the game of basketball.

He’s developed a rivalry with arguably the most talented player basketball has ever seen, and has inarguably earned the title of best shooter to ever play the game. Many gave up on Curry or doubted him early on in his career, due to his inability to stay healthy. To be fair, his constant ankle injuries initially hindered him from breaking out into his superstar potential. Still, there were people who doubted him before he even played an NBA game.

Even those who claim to have always known Curry would be good, virtually no one believed he would be this good. He’s become a household name, and he’s already a lock for the Hall of Fame, though his prime is far from over; Curry could very well add a few more NBA titles to his resume before it’s all said and done.

He’s dazzled us with his shooting ability, but Curry is more than a shooter. If Kyrie Irving wasn’t in the league, Curry would potentially hold the title for the best ball handler in the game, to say nothing of his eye-popping passing ability. Curry also doesn’t get enough credit for his ability to hit the big shot down the stretch as he’s done throughout his career, even today, playing with Kevin Durant.

In honor of Curry turning 30 years old this week, let’s take a look back at the 30 greatest basketball highlights of his career.

30. A Steph Curry dunk?

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This is a rare sight. It’s one of the few dunks in Curry’s career, and it was totally unexpected. It’s not a flashy dunk, but it’s flashy for Steph. Peep the rim hang after.

29. Steph puts Derrick Flavors in a blender

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Derrick probably should have given up after the behind the back move, but we commend his effort. Steph made the move and the finish look too easy.

28. George Hill gets dropped

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George Hill was a smart man for fouling. If he had let Curry finish this play with a bucket, he would have been immortalized in basketball history for one of the most humiliating crossovers of all-time.

27. Rookie Steph dream shakes Birdman out of his shoes

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Even fresh out of Davidson, Steph was a savage with his wizardry. He made Birdman look foolish as he paid homage to Hakeem Olajuwon.

26. 400th Three

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Steph is No. 1, 2, and 3 on the all-time leaders list for most threes in a season, and this was his 400th three of the 2015-16 season. For some perspective, the most threes in a season for a player not named Steph Curry is 276 (a record held by his teammate Klay Thompson). Curry has eclipsed 300 twice, including his record-breaking season of 402.

25. No-look alley-oop

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Live life as carefree as Steph Curry on the basketball court. There’s no explanation for this pass. It’s just Steph being Steph.

24. No-look layup

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Apparently, Curry would still be a really good player even if he was blindfolded all the time. Sheesh.

23. Curry fakes out Chris Paul

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Chris Paul is a seven-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection, but this is one of many times we’ve seen Steph Curry make him look silly.

22. Over the shoulder, no-look

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If the NBA is a playground, Steph Curry is its king; he does what he wants, however he wants.

21. Game-winning shot vs. Boston

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Curry missed five shots in row prior to this shot, so the Celtics thought it would be cool to switch Kris Humphries on to him. Ball game.

20. Game-winning shots against the Mavericks

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Not one, not two, but three game-winners against the Mavericks for Steph Curry. Seems personal.

19. Another no-look pass

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Another no look pass—this one had some extra spice, though. Curry’s got some guts to throw a no look touch pass with a defender in the vicinity, but then again, the Warriors were up by about a million points.

18. Two half court shots in one game

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Steph could probably shoot a better percentage from half court than most centers could from the free throw line. He makes it look easy.

17. Another half court shot

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Come on—it’s just unfair. Jamal Crawford actually made an effort to slow Curry down here, but with so much space in front of him, it was going to take the whole team to stop him from launching this shot.

16. One-handed floater from deep

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Why does Curry treat every game like he’s playing H.O.R.S.E.? He was clearly trying to draw the foul here, but knocking down a shot with this degree of difficulty is absurd.

15. Fake behind the back, over the shoulder, no-look pass

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People assume Steph developed this flashy or “cocky” play when the Warriors became who they are today, but he’s always had it—even before the clout.

14. Another unexplainable pass

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Steph Curry blessed Harrison Barnes with so many of these passes, Barnes needs to send him some of that $94 million—not that Curry needs it.

13. Deadly half-spin

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After this move, the Bobcats decided to change their name back to the Hornets. Jeff Taylor, the defender, is now playing in Spain. We don’t wanna cry “causation,” but…

12. Fake pass into a shot (all in one motion)

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This is ridiculous when you slow it down. Was it an up and down? Maybe—but it counts as a bucket.

11. Gary Neal gets cooked

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*Googles if Gary Neal is still in the NBA* Yup, this could’ve been one of the last highlights we saw of Gary Neal on the basketball court.

10. 11 3-pointers + 54-point performance at MSG

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NBA stars tend to put on a show when they’re playing the Garden, the most famous arena in basketball. Curry had a pretty good night, knocking down 54 points, 33 of which were three-pointers.

9. Marvin Williams gets dropped

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Don’t worry, Marvin, we saw that wet spot on the ground. too.

8. Gortat gets embarrassed

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The big men just never learn, huh? If you see Steph Curry in front of you, you might as well just get out of his way, because there’s no way you’re checking him.

7. Full-court shot against Memphis

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Curry took two steps and launched a chest pass at the rim from nearly the opposite free throw line. You can’t make this shit up.

6. Gobert feeling dazed

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Try not to laugh while watching this one. Gobert looked like he was nine drinks in at the bar, grasping for something to hold on to. Consider this a PSA: stop switching your immobile big men onto Steph Curry!

5. NBA Record for 3-pointers in a game

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With all the 3-point records Steph owned in his career, it was baffling that he didn’t have the most threes in a game. Naturally, he changed that on Nov. 7, 2016, when he hit 13 threes against the Pelicans.

4. Pelicans OT shot

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This probably should’ve been a four-point play that gave the Warriors a win in regulation. We’ll never know how Curry made this with Anthony Davis charging at him and contesting his shot.

3. Clips get sauced up

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How does Curry always manage to make his defenders look like they’re playing on a Parks & Rec team?

2. Curry drops CP3

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This is definitely one of the most humiliating crossovers of all-time, and it will live on forever in GIF form, representing people shooting their shots in the DMs. God bless Twitter.

1. Half court buzzer beater

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When Steph Curry walks into the gym, you better start checking him from there. Watch the naive Thunder allow Steph to walk into a half court shot with no pressure in his face. He’s the greatest shooter we’ve ever seen for a reason, guys.

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