Stephen Curry has been voted a starter for the All-Star game yet again, but Kendrick Perkins believes he doesn't deserve to take part in this year's event. On NBA Today, Perkins pointed out three candidates more deserving than Curry to be All-Stars in 2025.
"I look at a guy like Steph Curry making the All-Star game this season, and I look at a lot of guys like Kyrie Irving, Devin Booker, De'Aaron Fox just in this conference who had better seasons or playing better than him," Perkins said. "Look I'ma say the quiet thing out out. Steph Curry should not be an All-Star. He shouldn't.
"Look, no matter what the fans want, no matter what the coaches want, no matter who we want to see, this deal you have to earn to be an All-Star by your production," Perkins added. "And if you're looking at the production around the league is guys in a Western Conference that have better numbers than Steph, and their teams are in better positions than Steph's. So, I mean, what? Am I lying?"
Have the likes of Kyrie Irving, Devin Booker, and De'Aaron Fox had better seasons than Curry? Well, let's have a look.
Stephen Curry's averages in 2024-25: 22.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game
Kyrie Irving's averages in 2024-25: 24.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game
Devin Booker's averages in 2024-25: 25.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game
De'Aaron Fox's averages in 2024-25: 25.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game
Irving, Booker, and Fox are all averaging more points and steals per game than Curry. Booker also has the edge in assists while Fox has it in rebounds. A comparison of the numbers doesn't help Curry's cause.
As for team records, Curry's Golden State Warriors are 24-23 this season. Irving's Dallas Mavericks are 26-23, Booker's Phoenix Suns are 24-22 and Fox's Sacramento Kings are 24-23. There isn't much to separate them here.
Considering all that, you can certainly make the case that Irving, Booker, and Fox are having better seasons than Curry. The problem, though, is that they were in a popularity contest and you're unlikely to win that against the Warriors superstar.
Curry finished second in fan voting among guards in the West while Irving was fourth, Booker was ninth, and Fox was eighth. That alone was going to be enough to get the two-time MVP in over the latter two but there was more.
Curry finished second in media and player voting too, which guaranteed he was going to be a starter for the 10th time. Whether you think he's deserving or not, the three separate groups that mattered thought he did and that's that.
The only question now is which team will Curry be on in the game. The NBA has, of course, changed the format this year and the 24 All-Stars will be split into three teams. Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith will be the ones picking the teams and the NBA All-Star Draft will be held on Feb. 6, 2025. Also part of the game would be the winning team of the Rising Stars Challenge.
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