Inside The Warriors

Three-Time NBA All-Star Explains Controversial Steph Curry Statement After Backlash

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas attempted to explain his comments about Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry

Joey Linn

Jan 15, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
Jan 15, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. / Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
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Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas recently went viral for a controversial statement on Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry. Saying Curry is not a generational talent, Arenas argued that term is not being properly used, and doesn’t apply to someone like Curry.

“Steph [Curry] is not a generational talent,” Arenas said earlier this year on his Gil’s Arena show. “… Generational means you can’t mimic it... You can’t mimic f—king LeBron James. You can’t mimic Victor Wembanyama.”

Arenas faced a lot of backlash for these comments, but attempted to explain himself on an episode of The OGs show. According to Arenas, people are not using the term “generational talent” correctly. 

“I said that because I know they don’t know how to use the word right,” Arenas said. “Generational talent is an amateur status… A generational talent means you have potential still...  [Victor Wembanyama] is a generational talent. How can him and Steph be on the same platform?… So [Curry] is a generational player… He is already manifested.”

This is different from what Arenas initially argued, as he has previously explained “generational talent” to be something that cannot be replicated. He is now saying that is not what he meant, and the term instead should be used to describe someone with potential, not someone like Curry who is already established. 

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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