Ellis was a fan favorite for Dub Nation, so the trade stung. Former Warriors executive Jerry West believes Curry is who he is today because of the Ellis trade.
I think it made him more confident. They werent a great, I think, pair together, and they were both fantastic gamers, actually excellent players. I believe Steph was the individual that had the a lot of growth left in him, and when Monta left, youre seeing Steph Curry of today.”
” I believe when there was a trade comprised there, it offered him more space to do things, and also have the ball in his hands,” West told 95.7 The Games Damon Bruce, Ray Ratto and Matt Kolsky on Friday. ” If you have someone that can do something truly well and you dont have the ball in your hands or you dont have gamers that enhance you, its tougher to reach the quality hes reached.
The group didnt find any success with the small backcourt duo.
So in the middle of the 2011-12 season, the Warriors separated the set by trading Ellis and Ekpe Udoh to the Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson.
That move was the start of an on-court revitalization for the Warriors. Curry was free to take control of the group, and the franchise has gone to heights it could just imagine over the last 8 years.
For two and a half seasons, Monta Ellis and Steph Curry co-existed on the Warriors.
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The next season, the Warriors began a streak of seven straight playoff appearances. Currys success began to shine vibrantly and it rapidly ended up being clear the Warriors made the ideal option to trade Ellis.
With Klay Thompson taking control of the shooting guard area next to Curry, the duo formed one of the most lethal backcourts the NBA has actually ever seen.
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Curry would go on to win the NBA MVP award in 2014-15 and 2015-16 while assisting the Warriors to three NBA titles and five straight looks in the NBA Finals.
The NBA has actually been reinvented by Curry over the last decade, and it might not have actually occurred if the Warriors had held on to Ellis.
I think it made him more positive. They werent an excellent, I think, pair together, and they were both terrific players, truly terrific gamers. I think Steph was the individual that had the many development left in him, and when Monta left, youre seeing Steph Curry of today.”
