Stephen Curry could be Pat Riley’s last super star to sign with the Miami Heat
By Simon Smith
There is no one in the league more qualified to lure away a two-time league MVP than Miami Heat president Pat Riley. This summer gives ‘The Godfather’ one last chance to prove himself.
The NBA has been littered with league MVP’s leaving their current team whilst still in their prime.
Wilt Chamberlain changed teams after winning the MVP for both the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kareem Abdul-Jabaar won the award three times for the Milwaukee Bucks, before winning a further three with the Los Angeles Lakers.
And in more recent times, LeBron James left after winning the award on two occasions with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then another two with the Miami Heat.
It just so happens that the league’s reigning back-to-back MVP, Stephen Curry, has a decision to make.
Curry joined the Warriors’ recruiting contingent who travelled to The Hamptons this past offseason. Their mission: seduce Kevin Durant to the Bay Area. Durant is himself, of course, a former league MVP.
Curry’s selflessness was a key reason the Warriors were able to get Durant over the line, according to Warriors’ general manager, Bob Meyers. Meyers noted this past offseason:
"“…he sent a brilliant text to Kevin that said, ‘If you win MVP or I win MVP, it doesn’t matter. We’re trying to win championships. And if you do win, I’ll be in the front row clapping for you at the press conference.”"
One the surface, this looks like a case-closed, no questions to be asked situation.
Like, why would the reigning back-to-back lack MVP, fresh off the back of consecutive trips to the Finals, even have a modicum of thought to leaving?