The Athletic NBA Daily Steph Curry over LeBron? | Top 25 NBA players of the 21st century
Nov 10, 2025
Fred Katz, a longtime NBA writer, and Es Baraheni, an engaging NBA reporter, dive into the heated debate over the top NBA players of the 21st century. They tackle whether Steph Curry ranks higher than LeBron James, scrutinizing the balance between peak performance and longevity. The duo also dissects the placements of legends like Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant, while exploring the underrated status of Nikola Jokic. Topics like point guard rankings and the importance of championships shed light on competitive legacies, igniting passionate discussions and challenging conventional wisdom.
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Curry's Continental Impact
- Steph Curry reshaped basketball by forcing defenses to guard him 94 feet and altering play at every level.
- Dave DuFour argues Curry's transformational peak and equal ring count with LeBron justify him as the century's top player.
LeBron's Longevity And Two-Way Case
- LeBron's combination of longevity, statistical accumulation, and two-way brilliance makes him arguably the century's top player.
- Fred Katz emphasizes LeBron's defensive peak, passing, and unprecedented career durability as key differentiators.
Rings Versus Longevity
- Championships and longevity both strongly influence rankings; each panelist weighed them differently.
- Fred Katz and Dave DuFour acknowledge rings matter but also value long-term excellence and defensive impact.