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Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors had a historic run over the past decade, winning titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. While the 2016 addition of Kevin Durant was a huge factor in that success, Stephen Curry has been the biggest constant on the team and in their accomplishments.
On a recent podcast appearance, former Warriors player Quinn Cook retold his perspective from the 2018 title-winning team, capping off back-to-back championships, with Durant claiming Finals MVP on both occasions. Cook said that Durant wanted Curry to win the award, though that reality never came to fruition.
“And to be honest, Kevin wanted Steph to get that Finals MVP the next year so bad,” Cook said. “That’s all he was talking about all season, like ‘I can’t wait until Steph gets his Finals MVP‘ so he can shut up everybody, the naysayers.”
In the 2018 Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Durant averaged 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists on 53/41/96 shooting splits, compared to Curry’s 27.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.8 assists on 40/42/100 shooting percentages.
Durant Over Curry in 2018
During their years together leading Golden State from 2016 to 2019, both Durant and Curry were interchangeable as the team’s main star. Both were in the prime of their careers, were averaging similar numbers, and had an incredible impact when on the court.
While Durant ended up winning Finals MVP in the two title runs they had together, Cook said he was hoping Curry would get one.
“But I think in Game 2 [of the Finals], that’s when Steph broke the record, he had nine threes. And then Game 3, we were struggling, Steph was struggling, and Kevin just accidentally walked into 40,” Cook recalled. “And then you just look at the numbers statistically, I think Kevin had a triple-double in Game 4. He wasn’t even as aggressive; that’s just how good he is. He just accidentally got the Finals MVP back-to-back.”
Golden State, with both Durant and Curry had some of the most formidable teams in recent and all-time NBA history. Their combined 310 total points in the first five games of the 2017 Finals remain the third-most all-time, and their combined scoring averages in the series are the sixth most of all-time.
However you slice it, Curry and Durant were an unstoppable offense duo. Then, adding Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala into the mix, as seen, the Warriors had historic success.
Curry did end up winning the award in 2022, where he was by far the most impactful player for the Warriors. He averaged 31.2 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals on 48.2/43.7/85.7 shooting.
Iguodala won Finals MVP in Golden State’s first championship year in 2015. While Curry still scored more points, Iggy was the main defender for LeBron James, who, despite losing the series, nearly took home the award himself.
Golden State Right Now
While the 2018 Finals were a long time ago, Golden State’s current lineup barely resembles the one that won the title in 2022. Thompson left, meaning Curry and Green are now paired alongside Jimmy Butler, who brought an immediate impact to the team.
However, the Warriors lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and since then, the team has made very few changes this summer.
They lost long-time player Kevon Looney, and the impending contract extension of Jonathan Kuminga is holding them back from making any other offseason moves. While Kuminga and the Warriors continue to face off in what has been a months-long standstill, they expect to sign Al Horford once that situation gets sorted out.
As they hope to maximize the last few years of Curry and Green at close to their top performance, Golden State will be competing in the West against Durant, who is now a member of the Houston Rockets.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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