There are going to be plenty of matchups to watch tonight when the Mavs take on the Warriors. Dirk Nowitzki and Draymond Green are two of the most game-breaking power forwards in the NBA. Wesley Matthews and Klay Thompson are two of the most prolific 3-point shooters of the last half-decade. Harrison Barnes, Zaza Pachulia, and JaVale McGee are all taking on their former teams.
And then there are the Curry brothers.
Mavs guard Seth Curry has spent his entire first season in Dallas playing to prove that he’s more than just Warriors guard Steph’s little brother. To be fair to big bro, the two-time MVP has quite a large shadow at this point in his career, once again on the path to leading the Warriors to the West’s best record for what would be the third season in a row.
In two games against his big brother this season, Seth Curry has averaged 10.5 points, 7.0 assists, and 3.5 steals per game. But those two contests — both played before the calendar flipped to 2017 — must feel like a lifetime ago to the first-year Maverick, who at 26 years old is finally playing his first meaningful minutes in the NBA. His development has happened quickly.
Since the last game against Steph, Seth has averaged 14.9 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 50.9 percent shooting from the field and 45.9 percent from deep, numbers which speak for themselves. He had a run of hitting multiple 3-pointers in 23 out of 27 games from Jan. 17 to March 10, production which might not beat his MVP brother head-to-head, but it’s certainly been enough to help the youngest member of the Curry family establish himself as his own man in the NBA. After spending two seasons in the D-League and then most of last year on Sacramento’s bench, Seth is now among the first names on opponents’ scouting reports for the Mavericks.
Steph, for his part, is proud, saying all his little bro needed was the chance to show what he could do.
Steph Curry on facing his brother Seth tonight in Dallas pic.twitter.com/IntWISYDoT
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 21, 2017
“It’s getting the opportunity, and then the ones that last (in the NBA) are the ones that take that opportunity and do something with it,” he said.
In his quick climb from fringe player to dynamic scorer, Seth has done more than just take advantage of his opportunity. He’s become a full-time starter for a team aiming for a playoff spot. Since Curry joined the starting lineup for good, the Mavericks are 19-12.
The future appears bright for the younger Curry, and his big brother seems more excited than anyone to sit back and watch Seth continue to shine.
Except for tonight, of course.
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