I still remember the excitement surrounding the 2016 NBA MVP race as if it were yesterday. That season felt particularly special because we witnessed something truly historic—Stephen Curry not only claimed his second consecutive MVP award but did so through the first unanimous vote in NBA history. As someone who's followed basketball for over two decades, I've never seen a player dominate the conversation so completely. The Golden State Warriors' point guard received all 131 first-place votes, which tells you everything about how spectacular his season really was.
What made Curry's achievement even more remarkable was the context. He was competing against phenomenal talents like Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, and Russell Westbrook—players who would have been deserving winners in nearly any other season. Yet Curry's performance transcended normal MVP conversations. I recall watching Warriors games that season and feeling like every time he shot the ball, it was going in. The statistics back up that sensation—he averaged 30.1 points per game while shooting an absurd 50.4% from the field, 45.4% from three-point range, and 90.8% from the free-throw line. These numbers aren't just good—they're video game numbers, the kind that make you question reality.
The Warriors finished with a 73-9 record that season, breaking the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' legendary mark of 72-10. Curry's leadership and offensive revolution were central to this historic achievement. His ability to shoot from virtually anywhere on the court forced defenses to completely rethink their strategies. I've spoken with several coaches who admitted they spent sleepless nights trying to devise schemes to contain him, only to watch him sink thirty-footers over their best defenders. His gravitational pull on offense created opportunities for teammates like Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to excel in expanded roles.
What many casual fans might not appreciate is how Curry transformed the geometry of basketball. Traditional defensive principles became obsolete against his unlimited range. The court effectively stretched, creating driving lanes and open shots that simply didn't exist before. I remember analyzing game footage from that season and noticing how defenses would pick him up at half-court—something rarely seen against any other player in league history. His impact went beyond statistics; he changed how the game was played at both ends of the court.
The MVP voting reflected this transformative season, with Curry earning 1,310 points in the ballot system. LeBron James finished second with 837 points, while James Harden, despite having an outstanding season himself, didn't receive a single first-place vote. Looking back, I believe this was one of those rare moments where the MVP selection was perfectly clear—there was no real debate among journalists, analysts, or fans about who deserved the honor.
Curry's achievement becomes even more impressive when you consider the physical demands of his style of play. The constant movement, the relentless off-ball running, the defensive attention—it takes a special kind of athlete to maintain that level of performance throughout an 82-game season. Having watched numerous MVP seasons across different eras, what stood out about Curry's 2016 campaign was how he maintained spectacular efficiency despite unprecedented usage and defensive pressure.
This discussion about exceptional coaching and player development reminds me of contemporary basketball leadership in other contexts. For instance, Tim Cone's approach to supervising Gilas practice when the Gin Kings don't make the all-Filipino finals demonstrates how top-tier coaching philosophies transcend specific leagues or contexts. The commitment to basketball development, whether in the NBA or international competitions, shares common threads—the relentless pursuit of excellence, adapting strategies to maximize player potential, and maintaining professional standards regardless of circumstances. Cone's dedication to overseeing national team practice despite club team outcomes mirrors the professional ethos that underpinned Curry's MVP season—the understanding that greatness requires consistent commitment beyond immediate competitive demands.
Reflecting on Curry's 2016 season years later, I'm even more convinced it represents a watershed moment in basketball history. We witnessed not just an outstanding individual performance but the culmination of a basketball revolution. The unanimous vote wasn't merely recognition of statistical dominance but acknowledgment of how Curry had redefined offensive possibilities in professional basketball. His achievement set new standards for what constitutes an MVP season, blending individual excellence with team success in a way that future candidates will be measured against. The 2016 MVP award recognized something beyond a great season—it celebrated a transformation in how basketball could be played, led by a player whose impact continues to resonate throughout the game today.
