Why Stephen Curry Is Better Than Shaquille O'Neal

(Photo : Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 25: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after hitting a three pointer against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on December 25, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.

It is probably useless to debate over the talent and strength of two NBA players who play different positions but in terms of legacy, that will be easy.

Big man Shaquille O'Neal made headlines over the weekend for the way he gave props to Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

At the NBA on TNT show, he said that Curry is better than him. It is hard to dissect what it meant but many fans interpreted it as a suggestion that the Warriors swift-shooting guard put up a better legacy than his.

This is also because he offered a fresh take that Curry should be in the Greatest of All Time conversation, a discussion dominated mostly by Michael Jordan, Lebron James, as well as Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell.

"I played 20 years, watched 20 years before that, and I've never seen a guy like him," Shaq said in the show. "And he's doing it consistently. And he has championships."

"I'm wondering if it's time to start putting him as the best player of all time - in the conversation."

There is a lot to unpack from Shaq's statement. The GOAT debate deserves another article.

Was Shaq right about his evaluation of his and Steph's career? He probably is.

3 ways Chef Curry is better than Shaq overall:

1. Revolutionized the game

The two are tied in terms of NBA titles but Curry has more season MVPs, two against one. One of those MVP was received after being voted as the unanimous winner, the only time in the history of the league that it happened.

This is the only area where Steph has it better than the former Los Angeles Lakers star.

There are only a few players who revolutionized basketball and one of them is Curry. That is not something that can be said about Shaq.

Curry made three-point shooting a cool skill. Everybody is taking their game outside now. It is now a must for teams to chase the three-point line because of Curry. Logo shots are now more common.

Basketball is a big man's game they say but Curry shattered that stereotype/

2. Cultural impact and basketball legacy

Shaq is the most dominant big man but there are no definitive takes that say he is the best big man of all time. That is where Curry has him beat. The league's all-time three-point scorer is regarded as the best shooter of all time.

Curry made basketball easier and more accessible to many people around the world. The game was already going global before him but he took it to another level when his peak arrived.

Another reason why he is better than Shaq is the fact that he turned the Warriors into a perennial contender from a lowly franchise. Warriors were not among the big market teams before the mid-2010s but now, its valuation is by the billions, all thanks to the career that Curry built.

Shaq, on the other hand, joined the Lakers which was already an established franchise because of Magic Johnson and Kareem-Abdul Jabbar.

3. Ring chasing

This is related to the point above. Curry built the Warriors into a contender from the ground up. O'Neal was not able to do it with the team that drafted him, the Orlando Magic.

This is not a knock on what Shaq was able to do for the Lakers and the Miami Heat but a recognition of the impact of Curry on the Warriors.

It is very rare that a star player wins a championship with the team that drafted him. A player of his caliber usually gets frustrated about the lack of a good supporting cast and then will ask to be traded.

Curry endured and was patient but it is not just because of the franchise's decision. His shooting prowess became a compelling system that the Warriors need to build around and that's how they became successful.