It’s extremely rare when an athlete changes the way in which a sport is played and engages casual sports fans around the world to follow their code by doing something that is genuinely different and more exciting than their opponents.
Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors are presently agents of change in basketball. In fact, Curry’s shooting prowess, speed and ball-handling ability is so superior to his rivals he might be the biggest agent of change in US sports since Tiger Woods.
Essentially, Curry plays on the premise that three points beat two points and this is unusual in the history of the NBA.
The NBA introduced the three-point shot in 1979-80. The average NBA team used the shot on just 227 out of 7,433 field-goal attempts – 3.1 per cent. The three-point shot reached its nadir in 1982-83. Not one NBA team made 100 three-pointers and only four players passed 25 in the season.
In 1994-95 the length of the shot was shortened from 23 feet 9 inches (22 feet in the corners) to a uniform 22 feet. This led to a significant increase in the number of three-pointers. John Starks from the New York Nicks became the first individual to pass 200 successes in a season.
However, the three-point shot remained a largely unessential weapon. The Chicago Bulls, who won the NBA championship three times in a row between 1996 and 1998, ranked 17th, 12th and tenth in three-point shooting.
Fast forward two decades and we have Stephen Curry.
He shot a record 402 three-pointers in 2015-16, beating his own record by 116. The Warriors have shot a record 1077 three-pointers and are one of only five teams in the history of the league to average a success rate of higher than 40 per cent across the entire season.
Klay Thompson also made 276 three-pointers in the regular season which is the third highest total ever.
The impact of their combined success has been devastating. The Warriors won a record 73 regular season games and despite being beaten in every meaningful statistical category in the last two games of the Western Conference finals against Oklahoma City, won the series on the weight of three-point shooting.
Curry has led the league in three-point shooting in the last four seasons (a record) and guided the Warriors to their first championship in 40 years last season. Reliance on the three-point shot has become explosive.
Last year teams were taking 25.9 per cent of their shots from three-point range, averaging 1,766 attempts. That’s an increase of 47 per cent from 2002-03.
Sharp-shooters like Kyle Kover, Chandler Parsons and Damian Lillard have become more valuable than perhaps they could ever have imagined because of Curry’s shooting exploits.
LeBron James might be a more complete and conventional basketball player, but Curry’s approach to the game which combines speed across the floor, great handling and passing, and long accurate shooting is pioneering a new type of player.
James’ popularity shadows when compared to Curry. In the past year, Curry merchandise sales increased by more than 250 per cent, setting a new record. In November 2015, Curry products were the top-selling NBA merchandise in 38 of 50 US states.
Tiger Woods’ impact on golf is undeniable. He spent 683 weeks ranked world number one, 352 more than the previous record holder Greg Norman. Woods won 79 times on the USPGA tour, including 14 majors and was the first player under 30 to win more than ten major championships.
Woods has earned more than $110 million in official earnings and the year before he turned pro, the tour’s all-time career earnings leader was Greg Norman at $9.59 million. Between 1995 and 2008 there were over 4000 new golf courses built in the US.
Woods revolutionised golf with his physical preparation and approach to the game. Golf has become a sport for young, extremely fit men who can drive the ball a mile. In fact, ‘Tiger-proofing’ at the Masters saw significant yardage added to the course.
Jordon Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Rickie Fowler all come from modest backgrounds. Spieth developed his obsessive drive from his disabled sister. McIlroy is the son of unprivileged parents who took on multiple jobs to fund his dream. Day is a young alcoholic who overcame the loss of his father, and Fowler’s Japanese grandparents were imprisoned for their ethnicity during World War II.
They are a colourful and unlikely bunch of success stories, but they share at least one thing in common.
They all watched Woods as youngsters and wanted to be him; and now they are, in approach and potential earnings at least.
Curry is becoming a similar phenomenon to Woods. The way he plays the game is forcing teams and players to question conventional tactics. He is increasing the popularity of the sport and NBA TV has had its highest rating games this year when Curry was playing.
He is inspiring a generation through unusual originality and success.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
The last people to realise or even recognise a dynasty is over are the former champions themselves. Golden State’s golden era is over despite…
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA, less than 24 hours after he hit Phoenix Suns centre Jusuf…
The golden glow has long since faded from Warriors star Draymond Green.
Golden State's sharpshooter is not as reliable this year.
Josh Giddey's Oklahoma City Thunder brought Adelaide back to earth with a thud.
Whether it was from producing huge dunks, playing great defence, blocking shots or showing off his freakish athleticism, Andrew Wiggins did all that and…
