Jerry West Comments on How Stephen Curry Would Have Fared in His Era

Golden State Warriors executive and Hall of Famer Jerry West thinks Stephen Curry would have thrived in his era, but the game would not have been as easy to play as it is today. 

"He would've been great when we played," West said, per Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com. "He would've gotten knocked on his fanny a lot harder, but he also would've gotten to the free-throw line a little bit more. He doesn't get any calls at all [now]. He gets no calls."

That's high praise from one of the best scorers in NBA history, talking about the best scorer of this generation. Curry, the two-time Most Valuable Player, has his team vying for its second straight NBA championship right now.

But with Curry being a three-point specialist, West also feels the game's difficulty has eased up and is less physical. Even the slightest physicality can turn the tide of the game.

"I think it's a lot easier to play today," West said, per Holmes. "It's not a dirty game at all. Not a physical game. If somebody gets bumped [now], it's a flagrant foul or something. It's beyond comprehension to me."

It's the age-old debate if today's NBA players would translate well in a past era. While Curry would have gotten hit much more, his ability to move without the ball would have been a valuable asset in an era of shot-makers like West. This won't be the last time Curry comes up in these discussions.