“Never seen anything like him before in my life.” That’s how Allen Iverson described Stephen Curry during his recent media tour promoting his memoir, Misunderstood. The 76ers legend didn’t hesitate to express admiration for the Warriors superstar- so much so that he placed Curry among his top five players of all time.

During an interview with CBS News, Iverson listed his all-time five: “Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Shaquille O’Neal.” That list quickly drew reactions across the basketball world, including from former NBA champion Danny Green, who offered a respectful critique on his podcast. “I expected him to pay more homage to the older guys because he’s an older guy himself,” Green said.

“Steph for me is in the top 10, but I don’t know if I could put him in the top five. Like, him and Magic is a conversation.” Green, a former teammate of LeBron James, agreed that Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron make up the undisputed top three- regardless of order- but questioned Iverson’s inclusion of Curry and Shaq to round out the list.

His biggest hesitation was with Curry, suggesting that while the Warriors superstar’s resume is elite, it might not yet surpass the legacy of Magic Johnson. For Iverson, however, Curry’s place in his top five makes perfect sense. As an undersized guard who dominated giants during his era, Iverson likely sees a reflection of himself in the two-time MVP- a player who changed the game despite the odds stacked against him.

“Steph to me is a very good player, and I’m not trying to pick on Steph, but because I think he’s one of the greatest to ever do what he’s done, and he’s definitely a top 10 because of that. If he wasn’t the greatest to do it, he wouldn’t be in the top 10 if he wasn’t. Because if you look at everybody else that’s normally in the top 10, they were juggernauts, not on just offense, but both sides of the ball or they they dominate the game in multitude of ways.”

Danny Green, on his Inside the Green Room podcast, pointed out that he was never doubting the abilities that Curry brings to the hardwood. Shooting from any distance, being an offensive general, making plays for teammates, and being a master of floor spacing are all those qualities that push the Warriors‘ superstar to the top 10 spot. But Green would have picked the older guys who could dominate the game on both ends of the floor.

“Again, this is his (Allen Iverson) opinion, so I don’t think this is a terrible one, but I just thought he would pay more homage to the older guys. And I thought for sure Magic would might be in there. You got Kareem, Bill Russell, Wilt, Larry Bird, there’s a, you know, even, you know, Tim Duncan, like guys that I think of that are my top 10.”

However, as Danny Green astutely noted in his candid response to Allen Iverson’s top-five list, there’s a pattern that often goes unnoticed in all-time rankings. The majority of players routinely featured in the NBA’s top 10- whether chosen by fans, analysts, or former pros- are typically at least 6’6” or taller. The lone consistent exception? Stephen Curry, the only guard under 6’4” who has cracked that conversation.

Curry’s inclusion doesn’t diminish the two-way dominance of the legends above him; rather, it underscores the magnitude of his impact as a pure offensive engine. His unprecedented blend of gravity, shot creation, and system-shaping influence has forced a reevaluation of how greatness is defined- proving that generational dominance isn’t confined to size, but to the ability to completely bend the geometry of the game. And as AI pointed out, “Never seen anything like him”.

Other stars who celebrate Stephen Curry

Creating dynasties, changing the culture with three-point shooting, and overcoming constant ankle injuries push Stephen Curry‘s stock to be in the top 10 in the league. In fact, long-time rival and now an Olympics teammate, LeBron James previously shared high praise about the Warriors superstar’s impact.

“Steph and Allen Iverson are the two biggest influential guys in our game since I’ve been watching and covering…They were so relatable…Kids felt like they could be them.”

In fact, there is also a debate where people often discredit or downplay the work of the current stars in the league.

Some of the former stars have felt that Curry’s success is tied to the era he’s playing in, as the court is way more spaced out and the game is less physical than it was in the ’90s. However, despite this what-if scenario, one of the greatest to play in that period, Magic Johnson, isn’t the one to doubt the Baby-Faced Assassin.

“He’s one of the greatest of all time… He’s definitely on my dream team as the greatest that’s ever played this game.” 

So, no doubt, there will be opinions on personal preference while ranking the top 5 or 10 players in the league. But Allen Iverson isn’t going to change his ways any time soon. “You’re in my top 5 all day long.” After all, he previously made a heartfelt stance about Curry.