The Golden State Warriors are returning to the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight years and superstar guard Stephen Curry is ready to take center stage.
Curry is coming off of an impressive showing in the Western Conference Finals, where he averaged 23.8 points, 7.4 assists, 6.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 43.9 percent from 3. His efforts resulted in taking home the first-ever Magic Johnson West Finals MVP award, adding more hardware to his already packed trophy case.
MORE: Subscribe to Apple TV to watch Stephen Curry: Underrated
Curry continues to grow his legacy with another trip to the Finals, placing his name among conversations of being a top-10 player in NBA history.
Remember back in 2009 when six players were drafted ahead of Curry? While hindsight is always 20-20, which teams passed on Curry and which players were selected over the future Hall of Famer?
You can find the full list below.
2009 NBA Draft order: Who was picked before Stephen Curry?
1. LA Clippers: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
The Clippers had an easy choice in selecting Griffin, who took home every Player of the Year honor offered at the collegiate level. During his sophomore season at Oklahoma, Griffin averaged 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He was even better during the Sooners' NCAA Tournament run, averaging 28.5 points and 15.0 rebounds over four games.
The Clippers can't hang their head on this decision, as Griffin developed into the 2011 Rookie of the Year (after missing his first season due to injury) before becoming a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA member.
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet, UConn
To be fair to the Grizzlies, they probably believed they had their backcourt of the future set in stone in their previous first-round picks Mike Conley Jr. (2007) and OJ Mayo (2008).
That likely turned them off to the idea of selecting Curry, instead taking an interior force in Thabeet. Thabeet was a monster in college, averaging 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game. At 7-foot-3, Thabeet was the best rim protector in the country, coming off of back-to-back Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Thabeet never panned out in the NBA, only playing five seasons before he was out of the league.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder: James Harden, Arizona State
The Harden pick worked out for the Thunder, as the prolific scorer helped complement Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on a trip to the NBA Finals.
Harden displayed his elite scoring prowess during his second season at Arizona State, averaging over 20 points per game on his way to Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. He played three seasons with the Thunder, earning Sixth Man of the Year in 2012 while helping the newly established franchise to its first-ever NBA Finals appearance.
While the Thunder botched the deal that sent Harden to Houston — where he would develop into an MVP candidate and become one of the best shooting guards in NBA history — it's hard to regret selecting Harden third overall in this draft.
4. Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans, Memphis
It seemed like the Kings struck gold with Evans after his first NBA season. Evans was a star during his freshman year, flashing scoring and playmaking chops as a 6-foot-6 guard. His size and skill were a huge draw as a prospect and he immediately showed it could translate to the NBA as a rookie.
Evans earned 2010 Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.1 points and 5.8 assists per game during his debut NBA season. Evans had a solid career, averaging 15.7 points, 4.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds over 10 seasons, but he was suspended from the NBA for nearly three full seasons due to a drug violation.
Evans was reinstated to the NBA this past season but has not latched on with a team yet.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Ricky Rubio, Barcelona
It's impossible to knock the Timberwolves for this selection, as Rubio was one of the most hyped international prospects in NBA history prior to the 2009 NBA Draft. Rubio was the youngest player to ever play in the Spanish ACB League, playing professionally at 14 years old.
His resume was already loaded, earning three FIBA Young Player of the Year awards, Mister Europa Player of the Year, an All-Liga ACB Team honor, ACB Defensive Player of the Year and a EuroCup Championship all before he declared for the NBA Draft.
After being drafted in 2009, Rubio played two more seasons overseas before he finally came over to the NBA. He has had a very solid career in the NBA, playing 11 seasons (and counting) as a perennial starting point guard.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Now, this pick by the Timberwolves is inexcusable. Minnesota fans have long held their heads over taking not one – but two (!) – guards over Curry in the 2009 NBA Draft.
Don't get me wrong, Flynn was a stud in college. He averaged 16.6 points and 6.0 assists over two seasons at Syracuse, but he had the same pre-draft concerns as Curry as a smaller guard, listed at 6-feet, 185 pounds.
You would have thought Curry's Cinderella NCAA Tournament run would have been enough to see his ceiling would be higher than Flynn's if they both reached their full potential, but the Timberwolves outright made the wrong decision.
Flynn only lasted three seasons in the NBA, two of which he spent in Minnesota.
7. Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry, Davidson
It's safe to say the Warriors are happy with their selection as Curry became arguably the greatest player in franchise history.
As a three-time NBA champion, two-time MVP, eight-time All-NBA, two-time scoring champion and best shooter in NBA history, the Warriors landed an all-time great talent in Curry with the No. 7 pick.
It's incredible to think about how the last decade-plus in the NBA changes if any of the aforementioned teams selected Curry.
As he stands on the doorstep of a fourth NBA title — and potentially, first Finals MVP — Curry continues to increase his standing among the greatest players in NBA history.
