The most important player on each and every NBA team this season

By Ti Windisch | Aug 28, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 29: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors stumbles to get back into the play after his baseline jumper during a 127-123 overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on November 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Golden State Warriors — Steph Curry

Kevin Durant might be a better basketball player than Stephen Curry is, but no player is more important across all of Warriors history than Steph. Were it not for Curry, there would be no Warriors dynasty, no KD in Golden State, and maybe no pace-and-space revolution.

Curry’s importance across the league both now and historically is an interesting debate, but there can’t be one about his importance to this Warriors team here and now. Steph made all of this happen, and honestly he continues to make Golden State the juggernaut that it is.

No player makes the Warriors’ offense hum stronger than Steph, and the inverse is true as well. With Curry on the floor, Golden State blitzes opponents, scoring 120.4 points per 100 possessions last season. Without Steph out there, the Warriors managed just 106.1 points per 100 possessions.

The Portland Trail Blazers score that many per 100 possessions, and they were the 16th-best offense in the NBA last season. No team came close to 120.4 for the entire season. Curry takes what would be a good offense and makes it an unbelievably good one.

As long as Chef Curry keeps cooking, the Warriors are going to be the NBA’s bogeymen. Golden State’s success is a team effort without a doubt, but nobody on the team plays a bigger role in their dynasty than Steph Curry.

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