Kevin Garnett isn’t one to toss around praise lightly, especially when it comes to the all-time greats. But on a recent episode of his KG Certified podcast, the Hall of Famer made a bold proclamation that’s sure to stir up barbershop debates and group chats alike: This is the Curry era, and Stephen Curry is the GOAT of it.
“I said this countless times: I think that we are in the Curry era,” Garnett said. “He is the GOAT of this era.
When we talk about the long ball … the three ball, you got to talk about the Messiah of that long ball, you understand? And that’s how I look at it.”
That’s high praise coming from a guy who battled through the league’s most physical era and knows firsthand what greatness looks like. And while some fans might instinctively lean toward LeBron James as the face of this generation - and with good reason - Garnett’s point isn’t without merit. In fact, it might be more accurate than it initially sounds.
Let’s be real: LeBron and Steph have defined the last 15 years of NBA basketball. They’ve been the league’s twin pillars - different in style, equally dominant in impact.
LeBron, the physical marvel with the mind of a point guard and the frame of a power forward, has been a force of nature since he first stepped onto an NBA court. His combination of size, vision, and athleticism was unprecedented.
Over time, he added a reliable jumper to round out a game that was already nearly unstoppable.
But Curry? His rise has been something else entirely - slower at first, but seismic in effect.
He didn’t just master the game. He reshaped it.
Steph took the three-point shot from a weapon to a foundation. He stretched defenses in ways we’d never seen before, forcing teams to rethink how they defend, draft, and even coach.
His handle, his off-ball movement, his gravity - it all changed the geometry of the court. And that’s what Garnett’s getting at.
When he calls Curry the “Messiah of the long ball,” he’s not just talking about a guy who shoots a lot of threes. He’s talking about the player who made the deep ball the centerpiece of the modern NBA.
That level of influence? That’s GOAT-tier stuff.
And here’s the wild part: LeBron and Curry were born in the same hospital in Akron, Ohio - just four years apart. It’s one of those almost-too-perfect details that underscores how intertwined their legacies are.
They first faced off in 2009, but their rivalry truly took center stage during those four straight NBA Finals matchups from 2015 to 2018. That stretch felt like the NBA’s version of Ali-Frazier - two all-time greats trading blows, each defining the era in their own way.
For a long time, LeBron’s claim as the era’s GOAT went largely uncontested. He was the chosen one, the heir to Jordan, the guy who could do it all. And he did - winning titles, MVPs, and rewriting the record books along the way.
But Curry’s greatness has aged like fine wine. His influence has only grown clearer with time.
He didn’t need to be the most athletic or the most physically imposing. He just needed a basketball and a little space - and suddenly, he was changing the league from 30 feet out.
What we’re looking at isn’t a clear-cut “one guy ruled the era” situation. It’s more of a shared throne.
If LeBron is the Jordan of this generation, then Curry is its Magic - or maybe its Bird. Either way, this hasn’t been a one-man show.
It’s been a two-headed dynasty of influence and excellence.
And if you're waiting for the next singular player to rise above the league the way Jordan once did? That player hasn’t arrived yet.
Because in this era, it’s not about one GOAT. It’s about two legends - one redefining dominance through power and versatility, the other through precision and innovation.
So when KG says this is the Curry era, he’s not dismissing LeBron. He’s recognizing that Steph didn’t just play in this era - he defined it.