Imagine being among the probable best 24 in the nation and your dad has higher priorities on the game day. Well, that’s exactly what Alijah Arenas recently experienced during his McDonald’s All-American game as Gilbert Arenas could not help but admit being in awe of the recent performance from Stephen Curry. So much so that the former Golden State Warriors star is willing to raise Curry’s name in the GOAT debate in the same breath as Michael Jordan. Gil, however, has one condition before this. A condition that will be the biggest change in the 37-year-old guard’s career.
For those unaware, Curry dropped 52 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished 8 assists, and managed 5 steals in his recent matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. With this, Curry has now become the third player in NBA history with 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a game. No wonder that Gilbert Arenas is eager to place Steph on the same pedestal as Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate. So much so, he regretted missing Steph’s 52-masterclass while being in attendance at his son’s McDonald’s All-American game.
“All that Steph… 52, 8 and 10. Oh, my God. Unreal. I’m out here watching high school basketball. I know it’s the top 24, but they not Steph. They not out here being Steph. I mean, maybe combined, but 52 tick,” Gil said. He further laid down the condition that would get him some serious consideration in the GOAT debate.
“Congratulations, man. Hey, listen, come on to the lake show, man, so I can put you all time GOAT. I’ll put you in front of Jordan for sure. For sure. Just put that Laker jersey on, God damn it. Please,” Arenas said. Now, there were even reports of a possibility where Curry would have suited up in yellow and purple. The whispers came from NBA insider Kevin O’Connor after the Warriors’ lousy start to the 2024-25 campaign.
“Is there a possibility that it’s the other way around,” O’Connor had said. “That it’s Steph ending up in LA, because the Lakers also have Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis, they just got Dorian Finney-Smith, they have a pretty good supporting cast.” But now with Davis in the Mavs, and the Lakers already having grabbed Luka Doncic, this report seems thin. But hey, hardly anyone expected Luka Doncic suiting up for the Lakers.
Furthermore, there is no denying that watching the 4x NBA champ pair up with LeBron James would be a treat for fans and a nightmare for opponents, considering their synergy during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Imagine the awards and accolades the duo could bring in, further adding the missing points to Curry’s GOAT eligibility.
Moving to the Lakers could eradicate a major criticism against Curry’s GOAT eligibility
When debating Stephen Curry’s place among the all-time greats, one argument that often comes up is the strength of the Warriors teams he has played on. Critics point out that he had the luxury of an elite supporting cast, unlike someone like Michael Jordan, who was the unquestioned leader of his dynasty.
Well, moving to the Lakers would still pair him with another GOAT contender, LeBron James, but that’d still not be the same as having Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and for two of his four rings, Kevin Durant on the same team.
For years, another knock on Curry was his lack of a Finals MVP. But in 2022, he finally put that debate to rest. However, the chances of him moving to the Lakers are thin, considering what he once said during an interview.
Following their 2024 Olympics success, the GSW guard was asked if fans would ever get to witness him and Bron pair up in the NBA. “Probably not. But I think the ‘what ifs’ and all that type of stuff, we kind of just leave that for whatever platform people wanna talk about it on.”
However, Gilbert Arenas’ opinion that Curry could be in the same GOAT debate as Michael Jordan after moving to the Lakers does sound tempting. But the chances of Curry making that move seem to be thinner than a strand of hair as of now.
The post Alijah Arenas’ Big Game Loses Priority on Dad’s List as Desire to Level 37YO Icon With Michael Jordan Takes Over appeared first on EssentiallySports.