Here we go again! Teague: Swap Curry for Lillard, and the Warriors would likely get the same result.

On August 11, Beijing time, a statement from ex-Warrior Monta Ellis recently caused a lot of buzz. He claimed that swapping him with Curry would have led to similar success for the Warriors. Former NBA player Jeff Teague addressed it on his podcast. He didn't endorse Ellis's view, but what he said was also quite contentious.

"Lillard has never been better than Curry... but if you take Curry off this team and put Lillard in, I think it's acceptable," Teague said. "I think they would likely have a similar record, and probably get the same result."

For years, fans have often compared Curry and Lillard. Both are skilled at pulling up from anywhere on the court with astonishing accuracy, but their similarities pretty much end there. Curry's superior off-ball movement, ball-handling, passing, and shooting consistency have carved a career path distinct from Lillard's prime years with the Trail Blazers. The Warriors and Blazers have faced each other multiple times in the playoffs, most recently in the 2019 Western Conference Finals, where Golden State swept Portland despite missing Kevin Durant.

Lillard's career has been illustrious enough to guarantee a future Hall of Fame induction, and he has nothing to regret. However, most people in the basketball world would likely find it hard to agree with Teague's statement.

A U.S. media outlet analyzed as follows —

"In the 2014-15 season, Curry's level of play was a tier above Lillard's. If Lillard had been in his place, the Warriors would have declined significantly, making it hard to believe they could still win the championship. If the Warriors had directly swapped Curry for Lillard in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, they might have been able to win one or even two titles. As for the 2022 championship, claiming that anyone else could have led that team to the top is itself a disrespect. That team had clear offensive shortcomings, and it was Curry's masterful combination of on-ball and off-ball play that compensated for the team's offensive flaws."

"In summary: If Lillard and Curry had swapped careers, Lillard might have won one or two championships with the Warriors. But to assert that he could have won four completely ignores Curry's core role in each championship team."

What are your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment and share your insights.