Former NBA player Jeff Teague has openly disputed Monta Ellis's recent claim that the Golden State Warriors would have maintained their success if Ellis had replaced Steph Curry.
During a live recording of "The Club 520 Podcast," Teague, who played alongside Ellis with the Indiana Pacers during the 2016-2017 season, stated directly, "Imma keep it real with you. He was never better than Steph Curry."
Teague suggested that while Ellis was a talented player, his skillset did not equate to Curry's impact. He offered an alternative scenario: "…If you said ‘We’re going to take Steph Curry out of there, and put Dame Lillard, then I would be like ‘Okay I could see them get the same results.'"
Curry has established a legacy as arguably the greatest shooter in basketball history and one of the all-time greats. Over his 17-year career, the two-time MVP holds the record for most three-pointers made, with a career 42.2% shooting percentage from deep and an average of 24.8 points per game.
In contrast, Ellis played 12 NBA seasons, averaging 17.8 points per game but shooting just 31.4% from three-point range. Ellis never earned an All-Star selection. His best season from beyond the arc was in 2010-2011, when he and Curry were teammates on the Warriors, and Ellis shot 36.1% from three.
The following season, the Warriors reportedly considered trading Curry to the Milwaukee Bucks. However, the Bucks reportedly backed out due to concerns about Curry's ankle. The deal that ultimately materialized sent Ellis to Milwaukee instead of Curry.
Since that trade, Curry has remained with the Warriors, becoming the franchise's most decorated player. He has led the team to four NBA championships and won his two MVP awards in 2015 and 2016.