NBA 2015-2016 season: Luke Walton compares Stephen Curry to Kobe Bryant, says both have 'killer instinct'
If there is anyone who could closely compare Stephen Curry to Kobe Bryant, it would be the Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton.
Walton played with Bryant during his career as an NBA player, helping the former and the Lakers to back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. Walton, who replaced Steve Kerr in an interim-basis, said Curry and his former teammate Los Angeles Lakers superstar Bryant are the same when it comes to their respective “killer instincts.”
"Steph, you can see when he gets it, and he wants it, which is the exact same as Kobe," Walton said, reports Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury News. "They just go about it in a different way. But he's got that killer instinct in him.”
Curry has emerged as one of the best NBA players to surface the earth. The “Baby-faced Assassin” broke records-after-records individually and as a team with the Warriors, including their historical start in the 2015-2016 regular season.
In addition, Curry is comparable to NBA greats with how he dominates the game using his unprecedented sharp shooting skills and dribbling wizardry. His competitiveness and winning mentality has separated him from the league and puts him at Bryant’s level. But according to Warriors forward Draymond Green, there is a slight difference between the two superstars.
"Kobe will tell you, 'I'm about to kill you,'" Draymond Green said, explaining the difference. "Steph won't tell you. He's just going to kill you."
Moreover, there is a difference in Curry’s profile as a star over Bryant’s alpha male status. Thompson noted that Curry is likeable by fans due to his wholesome image and humility, whereas Bryant was known for trash-talking opponents while backing it up.
Meanwhile, amid the Warriors’ historical start of 16 straight wins, Bryant believes the Dubs are headed into another milestone of winning 33-straight games. Bryant said he does not see any reason why the Warriors could not continue to extend their winning record, reports USA Today.
The 1971-1972 Lakers set the record led by the imposing Wilt Chamberlain, and the high-scoring guard duo of Jerry West and Gail Goodrich. The Warriors will visit the Phoenix Suns this weekend in an attempt to continue their league dominance.
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