Stephen Curry did not burst onto the NBA scene as a sure-fire future MVP. Curry put nice numbers as a rookie -- 17.5 points and 5.9 assists per game -- followed by 18.6 and 5.8 as a sophomore, but his overall game was far from what it is today.
Curry didn't even always play in the biggest parts of the game early in his career with the Warriors.
Speaking to Anthony Slater of The Athletic about minutes played and how Steve Kerr uses his rotations, Curry recalled the old days of taking a seat when it mattered most.
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“I didn't even play in the fourth quarter in Year 2,” Curry said. “Shoutout to coach (Keith) Smart. Acie Law played over me in crucial minutes.”
The Warriors went 36-46 under Smart in that 2010-11 season. He was fired after the season, his only as the Warriors' head coach.
Law averaged 5.1 points and 1.8 assists while playing 15.8 minutes per game. That season was the last Law ever played in the NBA.
With Curry on the floor in 2010-11, the Warriors had a 110.1 offensive rating compared to 105 without him.
