NBA – Former Warriors leader Monta Ellis blasts Steph Curry: “He arrived fragile”

Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif

Before Stephen Curry progressed to become the Warriors’ undisputed leader, this role belonged to that formidable forward Monta Ellis. The latter has just spoken about the Chief’s first steps in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Warriors are Stephen Curry’s team, and there’s been no doubt about that for years. It has to be said that the point guard, since he took over the reins of the franchise, has achieved great things with his n°30 on his back. First unanimous MVP in history, four-time champion, Finals MVP, some even consider him the best ever at his position.

But when he started out, things weren’t quite as clear-cut as all that. Coming out of a small university and used to the infirmary, the Chief evolved in the shadow of a certain Monta Ellis. Although never selected for the All-Star Game, the 2007 MIP was one of the most formidable forwards of his generation. Above all, he was tireless, averaging over 40 minutes per game in some seasons.

Monta Ellis talks about Stephen Curry’s debut

He saw Stephen Curry arrive in Golden State, he saw him face certain difficulties and, above all, he saw him progress by taking inspiration from him. Guest on Zach Randolph and Tony Allen’s podcast, Monta Ellis, who makes himself very rare in the media space, spoke out about his former teammate. He clearly didn’t see him getting that strong.

I didn’t know Stephen Curry would become so strong when he came to the Warriors, but I knew he worked hard every day. He paid a lot of attention to all the things I could do on a daily basis. He added those things to his game. When he arrived, the environment wasn’t good. There was tension between the players, the management… I had no idea he would be so good.

When I see the result, I’m not actually surprised. He came in physically fragile, but once he understood how to get stronger and how to handle contact, his career really changed. In the beginning, he wasn’t as tough. For little guys like us, that’s the main adaptation in the league. Without it, you’re not able to make it through an 82-game season.

Monta Ellis was the boss at the Warriors before Stephen Curry arrived, and, quite honestly, he admits he didn’t see the point guard’s potential. What he did see, however, was his team-mate’s impeccable work ethic and his drive to get bigger. When you see the result, it’s that he had to work harder than everyone else to reach the top.