“Always Thought Drazen Petrovic Was”: Stephen Curry’s 17,784 Points Swayed Reggie Miller’s Opinion on the GOAT Shooter 2 Years Ago

Stephen Curry became the Warriors’ All-time leading scorer, dethroning Wilt Chamberlain’s previously held record of 17,783 points in April 2021. To commemorate Steph’s brilliant achievement, ESPN did a special edition editorial piece with three NBA legends, Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki, and Jerry West. The trio was chosen because they all became legitimate superstars while staying loyal to only one franchise their whole lives, pretty much like Curry has.

Out of them, only Reggie Miller had some reservations about Stephen Curry being dubbed the greatest shooter of all time. Miller actually believed Croatian guard Drazen Petrovic was the best shooter ever, but eventually changed his mind after Curry broke the Warriors’ all-time record two years ago.

Stephen Curry made Reggie Miller change his GOAT shooter pick

Stephen Curry broke the Warrior’s All-Time scoring record back in April 2021 during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Curry posted 38 points during the outing, taking his total to a staggering 17,784 points. Steph was ultimately delighted to break Wilt’s record, telling the media that, “[Chamberlain has] got a lot of buckets. Obviously, he’s a legend and remains [one] across the whole league, but obviously wearing a Warriors uniform and having been here my whole career, it’s pretty crazy.”

But Stephen Curry wasn’t handed the mantle of best shooter, until his incredible feat. Reggie Miller, who is also in the conversation for the NBA’s best shooter ever, actually had Drazen Petrovic at the first spot. After Curry broke Chamberlain’s record, Miller would change his mind.

The Indiana Pacers legend told ESPN’s Nick Friedell, “I always thought Drazen Petrovic was [the greatest shooter ever] — because we played the same position, and I had to see it up close, I thought he was the greatest shooter that I had ever seen up close, but Steph has just taken shooting to a different level.”

Reggie Miller did have good reasons to put Petrovic over Steph. The 6ft 5″ Croatian was taller than Curry and could easily shoot over players. Drazen also had one of the highest rookie 3-point percentages in league history. But unfortunately for fans, the former Real Madrid man died at the age of 28 after a car crash in Germany. The fact that we never saw Petrovic at his full potential makes the European legend’s career one of the NBA’s biggest what-ifs.

Steph became the All- Time 3-point leader the next year

Stephen Curry in 2021 also broke another NBA legend’s record. In January of 2021, Stephen Curry laced his 2,561st career three-pointer to displace Reggie Miller from second place on the All-time three-pointers’ list. Miller even surprised Curry after the game, choosing to congratulate the Warriors star on his achievement.

But Curry wouldn’t stop just there. Next season in 2022, Curry would finally take the top spot on the three-pointers list. This time it was Ray Allen who got displaced by Curry. After the phenomenal achievement, it’s safe to say that Stephen Curry is the best shooter in the world.