To NBA executives, the Steph Curry era is officially over. The results of the league’s annual general manager survey came out Tuesday and for the first time in 10 seasons, Warriors star Steph Curry was not voted the best point guard in the NBA. That distinction went to the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, earning 37% of the vote.
Curry didn’t take even silver in this contest. That honor went to Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with a 30% vote share. The Dubs guard ended up third with 23% of the vote.
All in all, it’s not a bad spot to be in for a 36-year-old who wasn’t thought to last into his mid-30s in the league, let alone turn out to be one of basketball’s all-time greats, after those early-career ankle injuries. Add that the players who finished above him are the best of the league’s next generation. Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic were second and third in MVP voting last season, respectively, and neither guy is even 27 yet. In the highly unlikely event that Curry is bothered by this, he can take consolation in how a 37% win would be good for the second-lowest vote share victory during his winning streak.
Curry’s run of positional dominance in this poll began before the 2015-16 season, ending the three-year run that Chris Paul opened with 55% of the vote. From then on, the Golden State star would take the best point guard crown with at least a 57% vote share every year except for the 2020-21 season, where he won with 30% – Damian Lillard was second at 22%, and future winner Luka Doncic was third with 19%.
Barring an otherworldly run this season-which, since it’s No. 30, can’t entirely be ruled out-Curry’s reign as the NBA’s best point guard in the minds of league executives is probably over. But barring the uncharacteristic drop in form, his reign as one of the league’s best players in terms of on-court production will continue, and that’s what matters the most.
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