Stephen Curry has always been about bucking the trend.
And he could just be a sleeper for the MVP this season, since some key new rule changes are set to benefit him heavily.
One of those rules is the high-five rule. It prohibits defenders from hitting a shooter’s hand, wrist, or arm during or after the follow-through of their shot.
The second rule change is the heave rule. Missed shots taken at least 36 feet with under three seconds left in the first three quarters will now count as a team attempt, no longer hurting an individual player’s field goal percentage.
Curry has taken 111 heaves in his career and made six of them.
In Tuesday’s preseason game against the Blazers, Steph was awarded 13 free throws and shot 12 of then.
He finished the night with 28 points, despite shooting 36 percent from three and 40 percent from the field.
These new rule changes could jack up his stats big time.
Steph winning his third MVP award is totally in the realm of possibility, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson thinks.
“If Curry plays enough games, the Warriors win enough games and he resembles the player jolted to life by the powers of Jimmy Butler, he’ll be on the ballots,” Johnson affirms. “Curry’s stats to end the season with Robin at his side were comparable to or better than his first MVP season. Over his final 28 games, where the Warriors went 22-6, Curry averaged 27.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.3 percent overall, 40.8 percent from three and 92.4 percent on free throws. The bright lights were on and Curry was at center stage, where he thrives most.”
Curry will be 38 years old in March. The oldest MVP in NBA history is Karl Malone at 35 years of age in the 1998-99 season.
Steph has said that he still has no clue when he is going to retire, and he keeps his body in amazing condition.
He also has the added incentive of playing alongside his brother Seth this season. Look what that’s done for Giannis in the past at the Bucks.
If there’s anyone that could win league MVP at 38, it’s Chef Curry.