Ray Allen on Stephen Curry: “I think Steph is in a category of his own”

When you hear the older, “get off my lawn” generation of NBA players saying Stephen Curry is not all that, you’ll notice it’s almost always someone overly concerned about his legacy.

You’ll also notice it’s not one of the game’s great shooters — they all admire Curry.

Add Ray Allen to the mix. The last great sharpshooter who is now retired and golfing a lot in Miami is a Curry fan. SLAM Magazine asked him about Curry and here’s his response (hat tip Eye on Basketball).

Based on what he’s done, I think he has to be—he’s on his way to being the best ever. It’s always arguable, based on who’s telling the story. One thing I always tell people is, it’s hard to compare generations. Everybody has something or somebody that makes him feel special about the game, or the way they saw and the way they appreciate the game. I’ve sat back and watched a lot, and listened to a lot of people talk. He’s creating a lane all of his own. People comparing him to me, to Reggie [Miller]. But I think Steph is in a category of his own. Just being able to have great handles the way he has with the ball, to be able to score at will by getting to the basket. Myself, Reggie Miller, Kyle Korver, Klay Thompson—we play a different game. We’re shooters. We come off screens, pindowns—Steph can do that, but he’s creating a different lane. Point guards haven’t been able to do what he’s been able to do, because he’s mixing that 2 guard-ish in there with having the great handles of a point guard.

Shooters respect shooters, and Ray Allen is far from the only one who tips his cap to Curry.

Warriors fans living in the Bay Area, if you are a Comcast subscriber getting Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area, you can stream Monday night’s Rockets/Warriors game by following this link.

The only question about Curry is if he can sustain this kind of success, as Ray Allen did over a lengthy NBA career. Shooters can last a long time in the NBA — come the day Curry loses a step and his handle doesn’t create the same space, he will be insanely dangerous off the ball (so long as he accepts that role).