“Andrew Wiggins Should’ve Won Finals MVP”: Stephen Curry Wasn’t Warriors’ Best Player in 2022 NBA Finals According to J.R. Smith

Akash Murty | 25/12/2022
"Andrew Wiggins Should've Won Finals MVP": Stephen Curry Wasn't Warriors' Best Player in 2022 NBA Finals According to J.R. Smith

Stephen Curry is a once-in-a-generation superstar, who changed the game of basketball more than any single player in the history of the game could.

And yet, the 6ft 2’ baby-faced assassin of the Golden State Warriors have several people rooting against him when it comes to where he ranks as the greatest of all time.

The strongest argument is the 4x Champs’ lack of MVP and Finals MVP awards. Recently, a former NBA champ whose team stole one of Steph and GSW’s 2016 championships has come forward saying the GOAT shooter doesn’t even deserve his only FMVP award.

Also read: “Game 6 at Golden State Made Me Nauseous!”: Chris Paul Once Admitted How Tough It Was Losing to Stephen Curry and the Warriors in 2018 WCFs

J.R. Smith believes Andrew Wiggins deserved the 2022 Finals MVP over Stephen Curry

J.R. might be responsible for spoiling LeBron James’ last NBA Finals in Cleveland himself, or not, but the man has done enough in his 16-year NBA career to have an opinion that matters.

However, recently, he came out with a Tweet saying both Andre Iguodala (in 2015) and Kevin Durant (in 2017 and 2018) deserved the Finals MVP they received while leading the Dubs to the 3 championships which is probably correct.

But then, he went on to say that Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins deserved to win the 2022 NBA Finals’ top individual honor over their point guard who actually won it.

Even, Curry has himself agreed to the fact that Iggy and KD well deserved those awards they won, but also that those championships wouldn’t be possible without him.

So, this statement by Smith just seems an attempt to stay relevant somehow. There were no Playoffs for the Warriors without Curry last season, let alone the championship.

Also read: Why Did the NBA Stop Making Christmas Day Jerseys Leaving Basketball Fans Low-Spirited?

Stephen Curry’s performance in the 2022 Finals

Last season was Curry’s most inefficient season in the league. But without his 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, the Warriors weren’t going anywhere near the post-season.

But as soon as the playoffs started, the Chef forgot that he wasn’t as efficient as usual. The man averaged over 27 points throughout the playoffs and over 30p/6r/5a/2s in the Finals with merely 2.5 turnovers per game against the best defensive team of that season (Celtics).

If that doesn’t deserve a Finals MVP, I don’t know what does. Wiggins was truly remarkable on both sides of the ball, and the championship wasn’t going to Golden State without him, but he wasn’t better than Curry.

Also read: “The Absolute Greatest!”: LeBron James Proclaims 2016 Christmas Game Against Kevin Durant and the Warriors the Best Ever

 

Post Edited By: Akash Murty
2022 NBA Finals MVP andrew wiggins J.R. Smith Stephen Curry

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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