Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is on the cusp of passing Ray Allen as the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made. But is Steph even the best shooter in his own family?
The Curry’s boast exceptional shooting prowess. Dell Curry shot 40.2% from beyond the arc for his career and led the league in 3-point percentage during the 1998-99 season. Steph and Dell’s other son, Seth, have built only added built on the family legacy.
In fact, while Steph has already cemented his place as one of the best players in NBA history, Seth is quietly one of the best 3-point snipers ever. Let’s dig a little deeper into the Curry family battle for shooting supremacy.
Stephen Curry blazed a trail toward becoming the most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history
Stephen Curry’s shooting resume is unmatched.
Curry has made at least 200 triples in eight different seasons, the highest total in NBA history. The Baby-Faced Assasin has made 300 or more 3-pointers four times, including his sensational 2015-16 MVP campaign that saw him pour in a single-season record 402 threes.
But Steph doesn’t simply make 3-pointers. He converts at an elite rate. As of Dec. 8, 2021, Curry is shooting over 43% from beyond the arc, good enough for seventh all-time. He’s particularly elite at making above the break threes and making it rain from the wing.
Additionally, Curry doesn’t hesitate to launch from different area codes, a skill he first honed at Davidson College. He can pull from anywhere on the floor and gives defenses trouble because of his constant motion and sneaky ability to create space for himself and teammates as an off-ball screener.
The entire Curry family is sure to celebrate Steph inevitably passing Ray Allen in the history books in the coming days. However, little brother Seth also deserves his flowers as one of the best shooters to ever grace the hardwood.
Seth Curry boasts bragging rights over Steph in a specific shooting category
Seth Curry took a far less conventional route to the NBA than his big brother. Whereas Steph became a star at Davidson and got drafted in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, Seth had to scratch and claw for his spot in the Association.
After beginning his collegiate career at Liberty University, Seth transferred to Duke. While the younger Curry brother became an effective player for the Blue Devils, he went undrafted in 2013 and mostly spent time in the G League in his first couple of seasons in the professional ranks.
Undeterred, Curry finally gained a foothold with the Sacramento Kings during the 2015-16 season. After a trade sent him to the Dallas Mavericks, he really asserted himself as a quality NBA player, starting in 42 of his 70 appearances with the Mavs during the 2016-17 season.
Since then, Seth has carved out a place as one of the best shooters in the NBA. He shot better than 45% from beyond the arc on 4.4 attempts per contest from 2018 to 2021.
Curry’s remarkable shooting efficiency gives him bragging rights over Steph. Seth ranks second all-time in career 3-point percentage (44.1%), trailing only current Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
The 31-year-old is an invaluable backcourt piece and floor-spacer for a Philadelphia 76ers team hoping to contend in the Eastern Conference. Does he also hold shooting superiority over his older brother?
Which Curry brother is the better shooter?
While it’s fair to highlight Seth’s place above Steph on the career 3-point percentage list, let’s make some qualifiers.
Steph is averaging 8.7 attempts from beyond the arc for his career. That’s more than double Seth’s average of 4.2 attempts. Moreover, big brother has fired over 5,000 more triples in total.
When accounting for volume, it’s hard to argue Seth is truly a better shooter than Steph. That doesn’t even speak to how the two Curry’s get their threes.
For example, the overwhelming majority of Steph’s 3-pointers come above the break, where he’s shooting 42.3% for the 2021-22 season, per NBA.com. Most of Seth’s attempts also come above the break, but he’s converting at a 37.2% clip. Little brother is typically better at knocking down jumpers from either corner.
Seth excels at spotting up. However, he’s made just 33.3% of his pull-up triples this season. By comparison, Steph is making 42.4% of his pull-up threes on higher volume. The two-time MVP is also drilling an absurd 45.2% of his step-back threes.
Impact is another factor worth mentioning. Steph legitimately transformed basketball, which — after years of being a game dominated by big men — is now a perimeter-centric sport. Teams averaged 24.1 triples when Curry set the record books on fire during the 2015-16 season. This season, the league average is 35.5 threes, the highest mark in history. It’s hard not to point to Curry as being responsible for that revolution.
Both Curry brothers should end their respective careers at or near the top of most 3-point leaderboards. But Steph’s remarkable volume, range, creativity, and imprint on the sport make him not just the best shooter in the Curry family, but the greatest shooter in NBA history.
RELATED: Is Seth Curry Related to Stephen Curry?
The post Who’s a Better Shooter: Stephen Curry or His Brother, Seth? appeared first on Sportscasting | Pure Sports.
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By: Martin Fenn
Title: Who’s a Better Shooter: Stephen Curry or His Brother, Seth?
Sourced From: www.sportscasting.com/whos-better-shooter-stephen-curry-or-brother-seth/
Published Date: Wed, 08 Dec 2021 18:10:14 +0000
