On Thursday night, Stephen Curry made history once again, reaching the incredible milestone of 4,000 career three-pointers in the Golden State Warriors’ dominant win over the Sacramento Kings. A feat of this magnitude naturally sparks the debate: Should Curry be mentioned alongside Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the GOAT conversation? NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal certainly thinks so.

Following the game, O’Neal doubled down on his stance, reiterating what he said just a week ago: Curry deserves a seat at the table when discussing the greatest of all time.

“The way he plays the game, how he plays the game,” Shaq said. “I mentioned on our show, you should at least put his name in the GOAT conversation. I like the way he plays; he definitely changed the game. Because of him, over the last three or four years, teams have been running the three-man heave at the top of the key. Every team is shooting threes, and they want to blame it on analytics. No—it’s because everybody wanted to beat the Golden State Warriors.”

There is no doubt Curry has changed basketball with his three-point shooting alone. He hasn’t just evolved the NBA—his influence has reshaped every level of the sport. While many players have been dominant, only a select few can say they changed the game itself. And for that reason, Curry’s place in the GOAT conversation is warranted—especially if he secures a fifth championship, which seems like a real possibility this season.

Curry’s impact on the evolution of modern basketball

When Stephen Curry entered the NBA in 2009, few could have predicted the seismic shift he would cause in the sport. Now, with over 4,000 made threes, four NBA championships, and two MVPs—including the first-ever unanimous MVP—his legacy is undeniable. But his impact goes beyond the accolades.

Curry’s greatest contribution has been the complete transformation of the game itself. His style of play has turned the three-pointer into the most valuable weapon in basketball. Before his rise, the league was dominated by physically imposing players who thrived in the paint, relying on post play and inside scoring. Today, every NBA team builds its offensive strategy around the three-ball—a direct result of Curry’s influence.

The three-point revolution and its lasting impact

Before the Curry era, teams treated the three-pointer as a secondary option, with only a handful of players granted the green light to shoot consistently from deep. However, the emergence of the Warriors‘ motion offense under Steve Kerr—built around Curry’s unparalleled shooting ability—forced the entire league to adapt.

Since Golden State’s historic 73-9 season in 2015-16, three-point attempts have skyrocketed across the NBA. In 2012, teams averaged just 18.4 three-point attempts per game. Today, that number has soared to over 35 per game. Franchises like the Houston Rockets and the current Boston Celtics have fully embraced the philosophy that “more threes mean more points.” But Curry’s influence isn’t just reflected in the numbers—it’s visible in the way the next generation approaches the game.

In previous eras, young players idolized Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, or Kobe Bryant, honing their mid-range jumpers and post moves to emulate their heroes. Now, youth basketball camps are filled with kids practicing logo threes, step-back triples, and quick-release shots off the dribble—all inspired by Curry. His impact has redefined what it means to dominate in basketball. And as his career continues, so does the argument for his place among the game’s all-time greats.