How Michael Jordan-esque retirement would impact Steph Curry's legacy

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Talk about breaking the internet.

Imagine if, like Michael Jordan did at the age of 30, Warriors star Steph Curry announced his retirement from the Warriors and chose to take a shot at a professional golf career perhaps, like MJ’s baseball pursuits.

Where would Curry’s legacy stand among the elites from the Bay Area’s rich sports history?

Let’s start with where Curry’s career would stand had he chosen to hang up his sneakers at the age of 30. Steph’s twenties ended on March 14, 2018, a season in which Curry won his third championship alongside Finals MVP Kevin Durant.

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Curry hypothetically would have ended his NBA career with three rings, two MVP trophies, five All-Star games and two appearances on the All-NBA First-Team. For comparison, Jordan also had three championships, three NBA Finals MVP trophies, three MVP awards and an NBA Defensive Player of the Year award when he first retired in 1993.

So where would “Chef Curry” stack up among the Bay Area’s best?

Right off the bat, 49ers icon Joe Montana has one more ring sitting within his trophy case than the Splash Brother. And Curry might be great, but people aren’t referring to him as the proverbial GOAT like many do with San Francisco legend Jerry Rice.

Not to mention Giants legend Barry Bonds, whose four consecutive NL MVP awards from 2001-2004 likely won’t ever be replicated in the Bay Area.

Montana isn’t the only Niners quarterback with some hardware, as Steve Young himself has a pair of MVP awards and three championship rings just like Curry.

[RELATED: Steph leads list of Warriors' top five biggest draft steals]

Steph undoubtedly has changed the game of basketball with his three-point ability and flair for the dramatic. He somehow might be an even better humanitarian than an athlete as he’s repeatedly shown during this coronavirus pandemic, stepping up to uplift both his local and global community.

Bringing the Warriors out of obscurity as he promised during his rookie season is something that never will be forgotten by Warriors fans of all ages. KD brought the organization to its peak, but none of the success that led to that dynasty happens without No. 30.

But although many of Curry’s fans don’t have many memories of the 49ers’ dominance during the 1990s, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone either in or out of the sports world that was as beloved in the Bay Area as Montana and Rice were during that time.

Curry's career up to that hypothetical retirement might still land him on the Bay Area's Mt. Rushmore of legends, but a few more years likely will cement his status.

Luckily for Warriors fans, Curry didn’t make the same decision Jordan made, and hopefully he’ll be demonstrating his talents on the basketball court again soon. He also still has plenty of years left to continue filling up his trophy case, as Curry is just 32 years old.

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