Former Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis has asserted that the team's championship success would have been achievable with him at the helm, rather than Stephen Curry, provided he had the same supporting cast.
Ellis, who played for the Warriors from 2005 to 2012, told ESPN that "If you switched me and Steph out with the team that won championships, it’d be the same thing." He added that this scenario "put me in a position to make money for me and my family. I ran with that."
During his tenure with Golden State, Ellis averaged 19.6 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.7 rebounds over 35.7 minutes per game. He earned the NBA's Most Improved Player award in 2007. However, the Warriors failed to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs during his time with the franchise, making only one postseason appearance.
"Real people that know basketball and all that, …They know the team that I was dealt with," Ellis stated, referencing the circumstances of his playing years with the team.
Ellis's NBA career continued for another six seasons, with stints on the Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, and Indiana Pacers, where he remained a consistent starter. He never received an All-Star nomination.
Curry, selected by the Warriors in the 2009 NBA Draft, experienced a different trajectory. After overcoming early career ankle injuries, including surgery in 2011, he developed into one of the league's most dominant players. Curry went on to win two MVP awards and four NBA championships alongside Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, revolutionizing the game with his shooting prowess and floor-stretching ability.