Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and New York Knicks president Phil Jackson (Inset). AFP FILE PHOTOS
Never seen anything like Stephen Curry?
How about NBA journeyman Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf?
Multi-titled NBA coach compared the hotshooting Golden State guard to Abdul-Rauf, who played eight years in the NBA before spending the rest of his career in several continents.
“Never seen anything like SCurry? Remind you of Chris Jackson/ Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who had a short but brilliant run in NBA?,” the legendary coach tweeted on Sunday (Monday Manila time).
Abdul-Rauf was drafted in 1990 by the Denver Nuggets, where he spent six years before playing for the Sacramento Kings for two years. His last stint in the NBA was with the then Vancouver Grizzlies in 2001.
The Louisiana State guard averaged 14.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. He was a career 35.4-percent shooter from three and 44.2-percent from the field.
Jackson later on tried to clarify his first tweet, saying it was all about the style of play.
“How does commenting on Rauf mean I’m comparing him to Curry? Remind, yes, quick release, cross over, Yep, MVP, nope. Get a grip!”
The closest stat Abdul-Rauf had that can be compared with Curry’s is his 90.5-percent free-throw shooting clip and his 1993 Most Improved Player award.
In contrast, Curry is fresh from winning his first Most Valuable Player award in last season’s championship run with the Warriors.
He is averaging 30.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists on a 46.8-percent shooting from three this year, leading Golden State to a 53-5 record to become the fastest team to clinch a playoff spot with still six-and-a-half weeks left in the regular season.
Curry also set the NBA record for most threes in a single season with 288 made triples on Saturday (Sunday Manila time) in the Warriors’ 121-118 overtime victory. He poured 46 points on that record-setting night, powered by 12 threes, his last being the unbelievable game-winner from 42-feet away from the hoop.
That sent the Twitter world ablaze, with NBA peers firing out tons of praise to the diminutive dynamo.
However, Jackson had a different reaction.