Durant has two FMVPs, Curry has one FMVP! Curry has a higher historical status

On July 2, the discussion on the historical status of players has never stopped in NBA history. Especially the comparison between Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, the two superstars, is often brought out to talk about. Although Durant "snatched" two Finals MVPs (FMVPs) from Curry when he was with the Warriors, overall, Curry's historical status is still higher than Durant.

This conclusion is not casually stated, but is drawn based on multiple aspects of their careers.

First look at the team's performance. Curry is the core and soul of the Golden State Warriors Dynasty. In 2015, he led the Warriors to win the championship again after 40 years, which also started the trend of the small ball era. In 2017 and 2018, although Durant joined the Warriors and won FMVP in a row, the Warriors' tactical system was actually centered on Curry - his unball running, three-point ability and team basketball concept are the basis for the operation of the entire team. Durant's joining did make the team stronger, but if Curry was not available, Durant might not have been willing to come to the Warriors.

In 2022, after Durant left, Curry led the Warriors to win the championship again and won the FMVP for the first time, which fully demonstrates his value as a team leader. In contrast, after leaving the Warriors, Durant failed to play the dominant performance of the year, whether he went to the Nets or the Suns, and his team's performance seemed a bit thin.

Let's talk about personal honors and influence. Curry's innovative role in basketball is really not comparable to Durant. Curry can be said to be the most powerful shooter in NBA history. His three-point shooting ability completely changed the game's playing style and tactical layout. He won two regular season MVPs, of which he was elected unanimously in 2016, becoming the first person in history. In addition, he also maintained a record of 402 three-pointers in a single season, and led the Warriors to break the regular season victory record many times.

Although Durant also has four scoring champions and has won a regular season MVP, his playing style is more inclined toward traditional scorers and does not have the subversive power of change like Curry.

Curry really has the upper hand in terms of career loyalty and legend. Curry has been playing for the Warriors since he entered the league in 2009 and has never changed teams. He led the Warriors to become a wealthy family step by step, and even established his own dynasty. This kind of persistence of "one team in a lifetime" is really rare in the NBA where players frequently change jobs.

In contrast, Durant chose to join the Warriors in 2016, which was very controversial at the time, and many people thought he was a "traitor". Although he later won two championships and FMVP, the label of "submission to the enemy" has always followed him. Until Curry won the championship again in 2022, the American media generally believed that this championship not only allowed the Warriors to prove themselves again, but also completely cleared the negative impact of Durant's choice that year, and also made Curry's historical status more stable.

Judging from the data and performance at critical moments, Curry and Durant each have their own strengths, but Curry's role in the team is more obvious. Durant is indeed a historical scorer. At critical moments, no one can defend against singles. It can be said that he is a "unsolvable" existence. However, Curry's influence is not only reflected in scoring, but his unball running, passing awareness and restraint on defense allow his teammates to get better opportunities.

For example, in the 2022 Finals, facing the Celtics' strict defense, Curry averaged 31.2 points per game, shooting percentage of 48.2%, and three-point shooting percentage of 43.7%. The most important thing is that in the fourth game, he scored 43 points and directly defeated his opponent's defensive strategy. This performance of carrying the team forward on the highest stage completely responds to those who say he "can't fight the key".

Finally, from the perspective of basketball culture and commercial value, Curry has a much greater influence on the global scale than Durant. His image as a "cute god", his modest personality, and his inspirational story from obscurity to becoming a superstar made him one of the most popular players in the NBA. His jersey sales have always been at the forefront of the league, and the Under Armour, who he endorses, has become popular. Although Durant's technology is nothing to say, his controversy on social media and his relatively low-key personality somewhat limit his business value and cultural influence.

In general, although Durant has won more FMVPs in the Warriors, Curry is better in terms of team performance, personal influence, career legend, and contribution to basketball culture. FMVP is indeed an important honor, but it is not the only criterion for judging a player's historical status. The great thing about Curry is that he completely changed the way of basketball games and led the team to establish a dynasty. In the long history of the NBA, Stephen Curry's name is destined to be more shiny than Kevin Durant.