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How Did Steph Curry Become the First Unanimous MVP in NBA History?

Published 02/18/2021, 1:50 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Steph Curry is arguably one of the top players in the NBA. The 32-year-old is one of the best shooters in league history and has been the main contributor at the offensive end for the Warriors.

The 6-time All-Star who is mainly regarded as a great shooter has built a great all-round offensive game over the years. With stars like Klay Thompson out, Curry has led the new-look Warriors to the eighth spot in the stacked Western Conference.

Steph has multiple individual accolades, but none of them compare to what he achieved in the 2015-16 season. On May 10, 2016, Curry created history as he became the first unanimous MVP in NBA history.

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Curry’s blistering 2015-16 season

Steph Curry entered the 2015-16 season as one of the top players for the champion Golden State Warriors. The then 27-year-old was coming off of a solid season averaging 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game.

The 6-time All-Star had never averaged more than 25 points in his career, but all of that was about to change in 2015-16. The Warriors started the season in superb fashion with an unbelievable 24 game winning streak.

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Curry averaged a ridiculous 32.5 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game. It was a jump of almost 9 points per game from his previous season, and it was evident that there was something special on the cards that season.

Steph and the Warriors continued to be practically unbeatable and became one of the best teams the NBA had ever seen as they broke the Chicago Bulls’ record of 72-10 by having a league-best record of 73 wins and 9 losses in the regular season.

Much of this was because of Curry’s exceptional season. In the 79 regular-season games that he played, he averaged a career-high 30.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 45.4% of his three-pointers, with an overall field goal percentage of 50.4%.

Considering how great the Warriors’ and Curry’s regular season was, it was not a big surprise when the ‘Baby Faced Assassin‘ won his second successive MVP trophy and became the very first unanimous MVP of the NBA.

Will Steph Curry win his third MVP trophy this season?

The Golden State Warriors are a team in transition. After shipping out Kevin Durant two seasons ago, the Dubs have brought in exciting, talented players like Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. to their side.

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With their new look roster still adjusting to life in the Bay Area, Steph Curry has been handed the keys to the Dubs’ offense. The 32-year-old has embraced this so far. In the 28 games he has played, he has averaged 30.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He has been efficient from the field too, shooting 43.6% of his three-pointers and with an overall field goal percentage of 49.9%.

USA Today via Reuters

These numbers are pretty similar to the season where he became the unanimous MVP. He has definitely solidified his place as one of the most lethal scorers in the league and is in the MVP conversation as well.

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If he can repeat this form in the regular season and lead the Dubs to a playoff spot, he might be able to win his third MVP trophy this season. But the recent trend in the NBA might not benefit him. Considering only a handful of players have won the MVP trophy despite not being in a top-three seed, it will be tough for Curry to do so.

Can Steph Curry win his third MVP trophy this season?

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Written by:

Aditya Mohapatra

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Aditya Mohapatra is a sports enthusiast who primarily covers the NBA for EssentiallySports. Having graduated in Mass Communication, he has prior experience in writing for ABP News, and has been writing for EssentiallySports since November 2020. This die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan feels that LeBron James is the best thing to have ever happened to the NBA, and will hold a healthy debate with anyone suggesting otherwise.
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