After the win against the Kings, Stephen Curry entered a new club, a place where no one has even been. It is the 4,000 threes made club. When he entered the league, not a single player had even reached 3,000. Now? That number feels ancient. He hit the milestone shot in the third quarter, using a signature fake before letting it fly—something Warriors fans have seen him do for 16 seasons.
Let’s be real—Curry’s shooting dominance is in a league of its own. He’s not just the all-time leader in made threes; he ranks 13th in percentage, despite attempting way more shots than anyone ahead of him. The records? Staggering. He owns 26 of the NBA’s 104 games with at least 10 threes. Five of the league’s seven seasons with 300 or more made triples? Also his.
The 11x All-Star isn’t just a shooter—he’s a one-man revolution. And that is why Shaquille O’ Neal believes it’s time, time for him to be in the GOAT conversation. But before that he made sure to acknowledge the foundation that shaped him—his parents, Dell and Sonya Curry.
“Yeah, he’s a very humble guy and raised by both fine parents. We all know, both from both his parents, but you know the way he plays the game, how he plays the game,” Shaq said on Inside the NBA, praising Curry’s upbringing. The Warriors superstar’s skill set didn’t develop by chance. His father, Dell Curry, a former NBA sharpshooter himself, played a major role in shaping his game. “I taught my boys the fundamentals of the game and fundamentals of the shot,” Dell told Reuters in 2020.
His mother, Sonya, has also been a strong presence in his career, always celebrating the special moments her sons share on the court. When Steph and Seth faced off in Charlotte, she embraced the moment. “Great time as always in Charlotte for the Curry men showdown!!! It’s a win-win for me – I can’t lose Lol!! It’s always a great time for friends and family to get together,” Sonya posted after the game.
May 10, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) hugs his mother Sonya Cory after defeating the Houston Rockets in game six of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
While Sonya enjoyed watching her sons battle it out, Shaq focused on Steph’s impact on the game. The Hall of Famer didn’t just praise Curry’s skill—he made it clear that his name belongs in the greatest of all time conversation.
“I mentioned on our show that please put his name in the conversation,” Shaq said before making his stance clear. When asked which conversation, he answered without hesitation. “Greatest player ever again, uh, you know, I like the way he plays.”
O’Neal went on to emphasize how Curry has changed basketball entirely. “Definitely changed the game because of him. Because of him, the last three or four years, everybody has been running the three three-man weaver, the top of the key. Every team is shooting threes, you know, they want to blame on analytics. It’s because everybody wanted to beat the Golden State Warriors because of this guy.”
While Big Diesel still has Michael Jordan as his GOAT, he believes the 2x MVP’s impact alone makes him worthy of the discussion. “If you’re gonna start picking people, I just want to hear all the names in the categories.”
The GOAT debate will always be subjective, but Shaq’s message is clear—Curry’s influence on the game is undeniable, and his name deserves to be mentioned among the all-time greats. And this is the third time this month he has said this. First it was on TNT, earlier this month, Shaq made his stance crystal clear—fans need to start giving the 2x MVP his due in the GOAT debate. “As the supreme leader of the big man alliance, I demand you fans start putting Steph Curry in that greatest of all time conversation,” he declared.
Then went he went to amplify his take on The Pat McAfee Show. But while the debate over his legacy continues, Curry himself remains focused on something else entirely—winning his fifth ring.
Stephen Curry is focused on winning his fifth with the Warriors
From 2015 to 2022, Stephen Curry powered the Warriors to four championships, transforming the game along the way. He led Golden State to its first title in 40 years, then made them unstoppable when Kevin Durant arrived in 2017. In 2022, he carried an aging squad past the Celtics to another ring. But for Curry, the job isn’t done.
To strengthen their chances, the front office added Jimmy Butler, and the move has paid off. The Warriors have won nine of their last ten and are currently on a five-game streak. Still, Curry isn’t satisfied.
“That’s literally the only thing” he’s playing for—another championship, he said in a recent interview on 95.7 The Game. Earlier in the season, inconsistency tested his belief. “It does kind of knock at your confidence.”
Mar 6, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) gestures after making a three point shot in the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Now, with a 37-28 record and sitting sixth in the West, he feels optimistic. “I like where we’re at right now. I think we have what it takes to do it.”
But he isn’t getting ahead of himself. “I’m not fast-forwarding to saying, ‘Oh, we’re a championship team right now’ because we have another level to get to before we get to a playoff type of environment.”
Curry knows the real fight starts in the postseason. He just wants a shot at the title—and he believes his squad is ready.
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