Basketball Hall of Fame and Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley said he would prefer Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion Isaiah Thomas over Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry.
"If I was in the game, if I had to choose... You know, I love Steph Curry, and I know people are going to go online because they don't have a real life. But if I had to choose between Steph and Isaiah, I'd probably take Isaiah," Barkley said on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Barkley's contrarian take on the Curry vs. Thomas debate is sure to spark discussion among NBA fans. Curry is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his era, if not all time, having revolutionized the game with his unparalleled shooting prowess.
In a recent poll conducted by The Athletic, Curry was ranked as the 4th greatest player of all time, behind Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. This ranking solidifies Curry's position as an all-time great in the eyes of his peers.
However, Barkley's preference for the diminutive Thomas over the transcendent Curry is an interesting perspective. Thomas, while a highly skilled and accomplished player in his own right, lacks Curry's sustained excellence and game-changing impact.
Thomas had a brilliant run with the Boston Celtics, leading them to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017. But injuries and a lack of longevity at the elite level likely prevent him from being considered an all-time great in the same vein as Curry.
It's not entirely clear why Barkley prefers Thomas, but it could stem from the former MVP's rugged, physical style of play that aligns more with Barkley's own philosophy. Thomas' fearless, bold approach could resonate more with Barkley's outspokenness than Curry's cerebral dominance.
Still, Barkley's opinion is sure to run into resistance from the majority of NBA fans and analysts who view Curry as a transformative, generational talent. The debate over who is the better player between Curry and Thomas, or any other NBA star, speaks to the inherent subjectivity in evaluating and ranking basketball greatness.
Barkley's contrarian stance adds an interesting wrinkle to the ongoing discussion, challenging conventional wisdom and reminding us that even basketball legends can have different perspectives on all-time greats.
