On Tuesday, Golden State Warriors all-star guard Steph Curry went on the radio and when asked, said he was a better offensive player than four-time league MVP LeBron James. At first, it seems outlandish. Curry is definitely the better shooter, but as an all-around offensive force? There’s no way, right? We took an in-depth look at both players’ numbers from last season to determine whether they lend any credence to Curry’s claim.
Comparing James and Curry across 36 offensive categories, we discovered that the Warriors sharpshooter ran away with the head-to-head—winning 21-14 with one tie. However, adding a little context ultimately backs the popular notion that James is the better all-around offensive weapon, with the Cavs superstar trumping Curry in PER, offensive rating, usage percentage and points per game.
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That the numbers paint James as the better shooter—or at least the more efficient one—with his effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage besting Curry’s was among the most surprising discoveries. While the biggest support for Curry’s claim lay in his passing. In all facets, Curry appears to be the better playmaker, leading James in every assist category and also taking more shots that he created for himself.
So who is the better offensive player? It depends on your definition of offence. As far as scoring goes James is superior, but if your definition involves playmaking then Curry is your guy.