Curry’s Historic Night Shakes the NBA
In a breathtaking display of skill and determination, Stephen Curry lit up the court with a stunning 49-point performance, leading the Golden State Warriors to a narrow 109-108 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. This remarkable showing not only secured the win but also etched Curry’s name alongside one of the greatest players in basketball history—Michael Jordan.
Matching Jordan’s Records
Curry’s performance allowed him to match two significant records held by Jordan. The first was his 44th game scoring over 40 points since turning 30. Reflecting on the milestone, Curry expressed his appreciation, stating, “That’s pretty cool… Just from an individual acknowledgment perspective, just to be able to be in that type of company. Longevity is something I pride myself on, so that was pretty cool.”
As he continues to add to this impressive tally, it’s clear that once he surpasses Jordan, catching him again will be a tall order. Among active players, only Damian Lillard (31), James Harden (29), and LeBron James (25) come close, making Curry’s achievement all the more remarkable. Here’s how the leaderboard looks for 40-point games after turning 30:
1. Stephen Curry: 44
1. Michael Jordan: 44
3. Damian Lillard: 31
4. Kobe Bryant: 30
5. James Harden: 29
6. Larry Bird: 27
7. LeBron James: 25
7. Alex English: 25
9. Rick Barry: 24
10. Kevin Durant: 21
10. Hakeem Olajuwon: 21
Back-to-Back Brilliance
In addition to his scoring milestone, Curry also became the second player aged 37 or older to score 45-plus points in back-to-back games, joining Jordan in this exclusive club. Following a remarkable 46-point outing against the Spurs earlier in the week, Curry now boasts a two-game total of 95 points. For context, Jordan achieved a two-game total of 96 points in 2001 with scores of 51 and 45.
With an opportunity to extend this streak against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, the NBA community is buzzing with anticipation.
Climbing the All-Time Leaderboard
Curry’s scoring prowess has also propelled him to ninth place on the all-time leaderboard for 40-point games, now sitting at 74. The full rankings are as follows:
1. Wilt Chamberlain: 271
2. Michael Jordan: 173
3. Kobe Bryant: 122
4. James Harden: 106
5. Elgin Baylor: 88
6. LeBron James: 79
6. Allen Iverson: 79
8. Oscar Robertson: 77
9. Stephen Curry: 74
10. Kevin Durant: 72
With Oscar Robertson next in his sights, it’s conceivable that Curry could surpass him before the end of the season. However, it’s worth noting that last season, Curry recorded only three 40-plus-point games, all occurring after the trade that brought Jimmy Butler to the Warriors. With Butler on the floor, Curry has transformed into a scoring machine, notching six 40-point performances in just 38 regular-season games—an impressive rate of one every 6.3 games.
As Curry continues to defy age and expectations, his electrifying performances remind fans and analysts alike why he remains one of the most formidable players in the league.
