The Golden State Warriors are wrapping up their latest road trip with a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. This matchup holds extra motivation for Stephen Curry and his team, as they aim to bounce back after a tough 136-117 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, ending their five-game road winning streak.
Curry will take the court against Oklahoma not only to overcome a recent defeat but also to break the Thunder’s 8-1 winning streak. The star guard has shown determination in returning to the court following a recent ankle injury sustained against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Curry missed three games while recovering. But he made a solid comeback in the Warriors’ win over the Washington Wizards, although his minutes were carefully managed.
“We had a minute restriction on him at 24. It’s tough with a minute restriction to start and finish. So that was our solution,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr explained.
Despite the injury interruption, Curry has maintained a strong performance this season. He is averaging 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game.
Shaquille O’Neal Blames Stephen Curry For Decline Of NBA Viewership
The NBA’s viewership has dipped in the early stages of the 2024-25 season, even after an exciting opening night. Front Office Sports attributes this decline to a lack of new players capturing the public’s interest in the way superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant have.
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However, on a recent episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, O’Neal shared his thoughts on how the NBA’s focus on three-point shooting is impacting the game’s appeal. He pointed directly to Curry and the Warriors’ influence on modern basketball.
“Steph Curry and those guys messed it up. I don’t mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes, but every team isn’t a 3-point shooter. So, why everybody has the same strategy? I think it makes the game boring,” O’Neal said.
According to Statmuse, Curry is averaging 4.8 three-pointers per game this season. But Shaq thinks the rise of the three-point era has come at a cost to the game’s original balance and entertainment value.
