Gilbert Arenas boldly believes Steph is ‘not a generational talent’ originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Steph Curry needs no introduction.
The Warriors star changed the game of basketball with his otherworldly shooting ability and dynastic success on and off the court. He’s not finished yet either.
Still, retired 11-year veteran Gilbert Arenas dared to say Curry wasn’t a generational player on the latest episode of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast.
“Steph is not a generational talent,” Arenas declared. “You know what generation – [Victor Wembanyama] is a generational person who is a generational talent. Generational means you can’t imitate it. Can you imitate Magic Johnson – six-foot-two point guard with vision? No. You can’t imitate Shaquille O’Neal’s body. You can’t imitate LeBron James.
“Those ones [players] are generational, physical traits are generational. Someone like Giannis [Antetokounmpo] is adjusting. As, [Nikola] Jokić is not a generational talent, he is just a great basketball player. Curry is a great basketball player. Generational is something that happens once in 20 – when it hits, you’re like, ‘Damn.'”
“Steph [Curry] It’s not a generational talent… Generational means you can’t imitate him… You can’t imitate LeBron fucking James. You can’t imitate Victor Wembanyama… [Nikola] Jokic is not a generational talent.”
-Gilbert Arenas
(by @GilsArenaShow)pic.twitter.com/9zrVIMjzvJ
– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 31, 2024
Arenas describing Curry and the Denver Nuggets great Jokić as “great basketball players” seems like a backhanded compliment.
All the players listed by the 42-year-old host are generational talents – they don’t come around often. But for some reason, Curry and Jokić don’t meet Arenas’ criteria due to their “physical characteristics” being imitable.
Curry won four NBA championships, 10 All-NBA and All-Star nods and two NBA MVPs in 15 seasons with Golden State. Jokić excelled during his nine seasons in Denver, leading the Nuggets to their first NBA title while filling the stat sheet every night.
However, the two future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame selections will likely have more lookalikes circulating around the world than Arenas’ Wembaynama, which discredits their bodies of work when compared to other legends.
Arenas was a three-time All-Star and All-NBA guard, but his accolades don’t compare to any of the players listed.
Curry and Jokić shouldn’t worry about Arenas’ comments.
