Just how clutch is Steph Curry?
NBC Sports NBA Insider Tom Haberstroh wanted to know, so he dug into the analytics from statistician Michael Beuoy's website inpredictable.com. The data shows that the Warriors superstar is the 10th-most clutch player in the NBA.
"Clutch Win Probability Added (CWPA) is defined as the amount of win probability a player adds above or below a 'normal' play," Haberstroh wrote. "CWPA looks at field goal attempts, free throw attempts and turnovers in crunchtime. The metric doesn’t account for assists, rebounds or steals.
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"I downloaded the data for each active player and crunched the numbers to see which player, with a minimum of 250 games played, on average most raised his team’s odds of winning down the stretch. Instead of looking at cumulative Clutch WPA, which would essentially favor those who have played the longest, I’m looking at clutch WPA prorated to 82 games."
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Curry certainly has had some less-than-stellar moments on basketball's biggest stage over the years, and has missed some big shots. This will happen when you reach the NBA Finals five straight years.
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But the narrative that he isn't clutch and/or doesn't rise to the occasion when the lights are brightest is beyond absurd.
The two-time NBA MVP has drilled a bunch of clutch shots over his career, and we only need to go back to the 2019 playoffs for reminders.
Here is Curry sealing the win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals:
Are you old enough to remember when the three-time NBA champion scored 16 points over the final three minutes of Game 6 in Houston to end the Rockets' season?
The Warriors wouldn't have won Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Toronto without this 3-pointer from the three-time NBA champion:
The defense rests its case, and can't wait for No. 30 to take the court again.