Stephen Curry believes he’s the best player in the world

Who’s the best basketball player in the world? Stephen Curry would like to interject.

Who’s the best basketball player in the world? Stephen Curry would like to interject.

In an interview with TIME this week, Curry, the reigning NBA MVP and leader of the defending champion Golden State Warriors was asked, point-blank, if he was the best player in the world. He thought so.

“In my mind, yes,” Curry said. “That’s how I have confidence out there that I can play at a high level every night. I don’t get into debates, arguing with people about why I am versus somebody else. I feel like anybody who’s at the level I’m trying to be at, if you don’t think that when you’re on the floor, then you’re doing yourself a disservice.”

• BALLARD: The evolution of Curry | SI’s top NBA moments of 2015

That discussion has largely centered around LeBron James for the past decade or so, with Kobe Bryant part of the discussion in the earlier end of that timeframe. But Curry’s performance not only last season, but in fueling the Warriors to an NBA-record start in 2015–16 and managing to improve his own numbers (his scoring is currently up eight points per game from his MVP level) has made his case hard to ignore.

Classic photos of SI NBA Player of the Year Stephen Curry

Classic Photos of Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry

Courtesy of the Curry Family

Stephen Curry

Courtesy of the Curry Family

Stephen Curry

Courtesy of the Curry Family

Stephen Curry

Courtesy of the Curry Family

Stephen Curry

Courtesy of the Curry Family

Stephen Curry and dad Dell

Courtesy of the Curry Family

Stephen Curry and Donny McLendon

Chuck Burton/AP

Jan. 16, 2007 — Davidson vs. Citadel

Stephen Curry and Gerald Henderson

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Dec. 1, 2007 — Davidson vs. Duke

Stephen Curry

John Biever

March 23, 2008 — Davidson vs. Georgetown

Stephen Curry

John Biever

March 23, 2008 — Davidson vs. Georgetown

Stephen Curry with parents Dell and Sonya

Michael J. LeBrecht II

Aug. 28, 2008

Stephen Curry

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Aug. 9, 2009

Stephen Curry

John W. McDonough

Nov. 5, 2010 — Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz

Stephen Curry and DeAndre Jordan

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Jan. 22, 2011 — Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Stephen Curry and DeMarcus Cousins

Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Dec. 20, 2011 — Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings

Stephen Curry

Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT via Getty Images

July 12, 2012 — Celebrity Golf Classic

Stephen Curry, David Lee and Andrew Bogut

Jeff Chiu/AP

Oct. 1, 2012 — NBA Media Day

Stephen Curry, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Brendan Haywood

Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Dec. 21, 2012 — Golden State Warriors vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Stephen Curry

Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

May 13, 2013 Sports Illustrated cover

Stephen Curry and Tim Duncan

John W. McDonough

May 10, 2013 — NBA Western Conference Semifinals Game 3, Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs

Stephen Curry

Jed Jacobsohn

Oct. 28, 2013 Sports Illustrated cover

Stephen Curry

John W. McDonough

May 3, 2014 — NBA Western Conference Playoffs First Round Game 7, Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Stephen Curry and Mo'ne Davis

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Feb. 9, 2015 — Golden State Warriors vs, Philadelphia 76ers

Stephen Curry and Adam Silver

John W. McDonough

May 5, 2015 — NBA Western Conference Semifinals Game 2, Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Stephen Curry and Mike Conley

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

May 25, 2015 Sports Illustrated cover

Stephen Curry and daughter Riley

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

May 19, 2015 — NBA Western Conference Finals Game 1, Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets

Stephen Curry

John W. McDonough

June 1, 2015 Sports Illustrated cover

Stephen Curry and LeBron James

Paul Sancya/AP

June 9, 2015 — NBA Finals Game 3 — Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Stephen Curry and J.R. Smith

Greg Nelson

June 16, 2015 — NBA Finals Game 6 — Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Leandro Barbosa, Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green

John W. McDonough

June 16, 2015 — NBA Finals Game 6 — Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Stephen Curry

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

June 29, 2015 Sports Illustrated cover

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Nov. 21, 2015 — Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls

Stephen Curry and grandmother Candy Adams

Chris Keane

Dec. 2, 2015 — Golden State Warriors vs. Charlotte Hornets

Stephen Curry

John Biever

Feb. 7, 2016 — Super Bowl 50: Denver Broncos vs Carolina Panthers

Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson

Walter Iooss Jr

Feb. 11, 2016

Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson

Walter Iooss Jr

March 7, 2016 Sports Illustrated cover

Stephen Curry

Eric Risberg/AP

March 24, 2016 — Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

Stephen Curry

David E. Klutho

April 18-25, 2016 Sports Illustrated cover

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You can read the rest of Curry’s wide-ranging interview, touching on his career, family and other topics, here.

• GOLLIVER: Curry’s most memorable moments of 2015 | Open Floor

- Jeremy Woo