Nothing short of a god beyond the arc, Stephen Curry would be quite the addition to any NBA team. Golden State made the draft pick of the 21st century in 2009, although Curry was not first, not second, but the 7th overall in the first round.
But what if, by some miracle, Steph Curry had been drafted to the Milwaukee Bucks instead?
#FearTheDeer would’ve had a whole new, accurately terrifying meaning.
Let’s begin with the Curry-addition to the starting five of ‘09:
#6 Carlos Delfino (SF/SG)
#13 Luke Rinour (G)
#12 Luc Mbah a Moute (SF)
#7 Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
#3 Brandon Jennings
*#30 Stephen Curry (PG/SG)
Sorry, BJ3. The Bucks were lucky to have you. And focusing on three-point range, both players shot over 380 three’s during the year’s regular season. The difference is the number of 3PFG’s made — and where that went throughout the years.
2009-10 Season: 2015-16 Season:
Jennings 145/388 Jennings 35/106
Curry 166/380 Curry 288/315
(All statistics retrieved from ESPN.com on 3/3/16.)
The dagger: Curry made 100+ threes in 65 less attempts.
For the Bucks, Curry would’ve had perhaps a similar rookie year as Jennings. What matters most is the player he would develop into following 2009, which was the last time the Bucks had a winning record (46-36).
So to end my point, if Steph Curry were drafted to the Milwaukee Bucks, he would’ve been a promise for the future. #OwnTheFuture would’ve been #OwnedTheFuture. He's the ultimate catch-all. However, would he have truly flourished as much in Milwaukee as he has in the past, and continues to for the Warriors?
The Warriors surrounded Curry with players like his "Splash Brother," Klay Thompson, followed by Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala and ex-Buck Andrew Bogut, to name a few. Would the Bucks have been able to surround him with such talent? Probably not. Would Curry have been able to play as well despite the potential lack of other talent on the floor? I like to think so.
A fun fact to consider is this: Dell Curry, Steph Curry’s father, played one season with the Bucks, and had his best three-point shooting performance ever in his time in Milwaukee. He also holds the record for three-point percentage for the franchise.
Perhaps this glimpse of D. Curry’s success with the Bucks could be used as a precedent for how his son would’ve been in today's Good Land green jersey.
Altogether, Curry created the hype for Golden State’s franchise and absorbed the attention of basketball fanatics everywhere. There's no doubt in my mind he could’ve been that for the Bucks. Could Curry have still been two-time MVP with the Bucks? Could Curry have still won an NBA Title, this time for Milwaukee?
What I do know is if Steph Curry were drafted to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2009, Milwaukee basketball would not be in the rut it’s in now. The latest unreasonable circumstance was Marquette alum and hopeful saving grace in Steve Novak, who less than a week after being traded sprained his MCL. Novak ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Injury is unavoidable, but franchise decline is escapable. Or could've been helped, at least.
Steph Curry stole America's heart through his success, excitement of play and lovable personality/family. And I know he would've stolen the show and the hearts of Milwaukeean's alike, were the Bradley Center pronounced his home back in 2009.
But hey—Curry or not—I've still got #BucksInSix.
