Stephen Curry's top 5 opponents of all time

Stephen Curry is revered as one of the greatest players of all time. The Golden State Warriors stalwart has managed to rack up a resume that boasts of 3 NBA championships and 2 NBA MVPs. Curry has come up against some stellar stars in his quest to win rings, and in this article, we take a look at the top 5 opponents he has played against in his career.

Listing Stephen Curry's top 5 NBA rivals that he has faced in his career

Stephen Curry's legendary NBA rivalries include his tussle with LA Lakers maven LeBron James and playoff skirmishes with Chris Paul. On that note, let's check out the top 5 rivals he has faced in his career on the basis of head-to-head record.

#5 Damian Lillard

Men's Basketball Medal Ceremony: Day 15

Arguably the two best point guards in the league at the moment, Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry have had some memorable showdowns against each other in the last couple of years. However, Curry has come out as the top dog in a majority of these meetings, holding a 25-8 advantage head-to-head. He is unbeaten in the postseason against Lillard, having gone 10-0 so far.

I wrote on the latest phase of the Curry-Lillard rivalry: https://t.co/hpnLtJflB6

— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) March 3, 2021

In terms of modern NBA rivalries, there are a few which have been as lop-sided as this one, with Stephen Curry torching Lillard's Trail Blazers every time they play.

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#4 Russell Westbrook

Los Angeles Lakers Introduce Russell Westbrook

The Stephen Curry-Russell Westbrook rivalry is surprisingly not talked about often. Westbrook has played 39 matches against Curry so far, winning 19 and losing 20. Head-to-head inclines in favor of the Warriors star in the regular season as Curry leads 17-15, but Westbrook has managed to get the better of his counter part 4 times in the playoffs, as opposed to the shooting ace's 3.

ICYMI - Is Curry vs. Westbrook The Next Great #NBA Rivalry? https://t.co/grYT7IykFD — @CarterJNews via @HoopsHabit pic.twitter.com/zetLrk5DNm

— HoopsHabit (@HoopsHabit) May 28, 2016

Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook's rivalry peaked during the OKC Thunder 'Big 3' era. The two stars could meet in the upcoming playoffs as there is a great chance the Lakers and Golden State Warriors will meet each other in the postseason.

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#3 Chris Paul

Chris Paul during 2021 NBA Finals - Game Three

Point God and Stephen Curry are both brought up in various 'great point guards of all-time' conversations, and rightly so. However, it is important to note that both players have a history between them, dating back to Chris Paul's LA Clippers days.

Paul and Curry have played a total of 50 matches against each other in the regular season and playoffs, and the latter holds a 28-22 advantage over the diminutive playmaker. Stephen Curry leads by 19-13 in the regular season, while the two stars have split 9 games each in the postseason.

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#2 James Harden

Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Five

James Harden and Stephen Curry have 3 MVPs between them, with the former being the latest winner to land the coveted prize in 2018. The two have clashed against each other on 52 occasions, with Curry leading 28-24 head-to-head. When it comes to the postseason, Curry has a 14-6 advantage over the 'Beard'.

The rivalry between the two guards peaked in 2018 when the Houston Rockets were on the verge of defeating the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals. The Rockets led the series 3-2 at one point, but an untimely injury to Chris Paul helped the Warriors clinch the series in seven games and ultimately went on to win the championship.

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#1 LeBron James

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers - Game Six

Without a sliver of doubt, LA Lakers talisman LeBron James has been Stephen Curry's biggest rival to date in his NBA career. James and Curry have played 4 NBA finals against each other, with Curry holding a 3-1 record against arguably the greatest basketball player of all time.

In terms of total matches played, Curry leads 22-17. The Golden State Warriors star also has a superior record against James in the playoffs, as he has won 15 games and lost only 8. It is safe to say no other player has frustrated LeBron James as much as Stephen Curry has, and in a way that speaks volumes about the Warriors ace's legacy.

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