Jeff Teague had the same reaction that probably every person on the planet had upon hearing Monta Ellis’ claim.
Ellis, the former high-scoring Golden State Warriors guard, controversially declared on Sunday that the Warriors would’ve had the same success had he replaced Steph Curry.
Teague, Ellis’ teammate with the Indiana Pacers in 2016-2017 wasn’t exactly buying it.
“Imma keep it real with you. He was never better than Steph Curry,” Teague said during a live recording of “The Club 520 Podcast” before saying there was another star guard who he could have seen perhaps replicating the Warriors’ success with Curry.
“…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.”
Teague went on to call Ellis “cold” but said he’s not the same type of player as Curry.
Through Curry’s 17-year career in the NBA, he’s built a reputation as the greatest shooter the game has ever seen and one of the greatest players in league history. The two-time MVP owns the career record for most three-pointers made, has shot 42.2% from deep over his 17 seasons and has averaged 24.8 points per game.
A talented player, Ellis played 12 seasons in the NBA and averaged 17.8 points per game, though he shot only 31.4% from three. He also never made a single All-Star team.
Ellis’ best season behind the 3-point line came during the 2010-2011 season when he and Curry were still Warriors teammates. Ellis sank 36.1% from deep.
The following year, the Warriors were reportedly trading Curry to the Milwaukee Bucks until the Bucks backed out due to concern over his ankle. HOW CLOSE WAS THAT? CAN WE CLARIFY?
The two sides eventually came together on a deal that sent Ellis to Milwaukee instead of Curry.
Since then, Curry has remained with the Warriors and has become the most decorated player in the franchise’s history as he’s led them to four NBA titles, while winning his two MVPs in 2015 and 2016.
