MICHAEL JORDAN RANKED THIRD PUREST SCORER AS STEPHEN CURRY TAKES TOP SPOT
Metta World Peace slams a new list ranking Stephen Curry as a "purer" scorer than Michael Jordan and his ten titles.
The debate around who stands as the greatest scorer in basketball never really fades. Whenever rankings or metrics include Michael Jordan, the basketball world spins back into that familiar conversation. Recently, Bleacher Report stirred the pot again by placing Stephen Curry at the top of their list of the 15 purest scorers ever, with Jordan coming in third.
The response was immediate and intense. Metta Sandiford-Artest, known to many as Ron Artest or Metta World Peace and a former Lakers champ, didn’t hold back.
Taking to social media, Artest made his stance crystal clear. He dismissed the idea outright, highlighting Jordan’s rookie year average of 28 points, six championships, six Finals MVPs, and nine scoring titles, repeating the last figure for emphasis: nine scoring titles no one else has reached. For Artest, those feats put Jordan on a level that shouldn’t even be debated in these terms.
You can hear the passion in his words. Artest built a reputation as one of the league’s fiercest defenders and claimed a title with the Lakers in 2010. His perspective carries weight, reflecting a deep respect for Jordan’s place in history.
So, what did the list actually say? Bleacher Report based its rankings on three advanced stats: points per 75 possessions, relative true shooting percentage, and free-throw attempt rate. They aimed to reward scorers who performed efficiently without over-relying on free throws. This approach separated the rankings from more conventional views.
Jordan actually had a higher points per 75 possessions rate (30.3 versus Curry’s 26.7), but his greater free-throw attempt rate (35.8 compared to Curry’s 24.2) dragged his rank down. Plus, Jordan placed 29th in relative true shooting percentage among the players considered.
Bleacher Report didn’t ignore Jordan’s dominance; they noted his eight seasons averaging over 30 points and his ten scoring titles. However, they argued that Jordan’s scoring combined volume with a certain forcefulness rather than ‘pure’ scoring. In contrast, they praised Curry for mixing high volume with efficiency, relying on contested long-range shots, movement-based scoring, and underrated finishes at the rim, which they deemed a more ‘pure’ form of scoring.
It’s a solid argument. Curry revolutionised what scoring at the highest level looks like, hitting shots from distances that previous generations didn’t even consider practical options. This makes direct comparisons tricky.
But Artest’s points stand strong, too. Jordan put up his numbers against rugged, physical defences in an era where hand-checking was permitted, and officials allowed a level of contact unseen today. His scoring came amid the most persistent defensive pressure.
On the flip side, Curry is arguably the greatest shooter ever. The difficulty and uniqueness of his shot-making defy full capture by stats alone. He forced defences to rethink their positioning, influenced team-building strategies, and maintained highly efficient scoring over nearly twenty years.
As for Curry, he never asked for this ranking or the controversy it sparked. The list isn’t going to settle the debate, and Artest’s fiery reaction shows it won’t be without pushback.
What this conversation does highlight is the serious regard for Curry’s role in scoring history. He’s a player who has fundamentally altered the game, pushing the evolution of how scoring itself is measured.
Jordan remains Jordan, an icon beyond debate. Yet, what Curry has done to basketball is unprecedented. The argument will continue, but just having it underscores the remarkable place Curry holds in the sport’s story.
DEXTER LAWRENCE TRADE REQUEST LOOMS OVER GIANTS' PREPARATIONS FOR PITTSBURGH NFL DRAFT
Dexter Lawrence wants out! Discover why the Giants are considering a trade before the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
The New York Giants might have no choice but to trade Dexter Lawrence before the NFL Draft. Negotiations on a new contract with the star defender have hit a wall, and Lawrence already asked for a trade earlier this month. He's skipped the team’s first offseason practices under new head coach John Harbaugh, which hasn’t helped matters.
At this point, the Giants have been talking with several teams about a possible deal for Lawrence. With the draft coming up in Pittsburgh next week, the pressure is on. They need picks, and right now they only hold two selections in the top 100. Harbaugh’s trying to breathe new life into the roster, but he needs more draft capital to do it.
News of the stalled negotiations came just hours after GM Joe Schoen sounded pretty upbeat, saying talks had been "productive". He explained that he, Harbaugh, and senior VP Dawn Aponte were all in regular contact with Lawrence’s reps, looking for some kind of resolution. Schoen insisted they want Dexter to stay, but he admitted it’s out of their hands now. They’ll just have to see what happens.
Lawrence, 28, signed a four-year, $90 million extension last year. Since then, defensive contracts have exploded, so his deal has dropped to just 11th among league defenders. On top of that, the team’s shaken up its roster, letting go of many Lawrence’s close teammates like Saquon Barkley.
Lawrence has been with the Giants since they drafted him 17th overall in 2019. He’s played his whole seven-year career in New York, earning three trips to the Pro Bowl and two second-team All-Pro honours. His career stats include 30.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception. But last year wasn’t great; he only managed half a sack, eight QB hits, and a pass rush win rate of 8.3 per cent for a team that finished 4-13. It’s hard to tell if he’ll stay with the Giants much longer.
RORY MCILROY TARGETS SEVENTH MAJOR AT ARONIMINK FOLLOWING EMOTIONAL MASTERS DEFENSE
No long break for Rory McIlroy! After his 6th major win, McIlroy eyes the PGA Championship at Aronimink this May.
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Rory McIlroy isn’t following the same script after this Masters win. When reporters asked if he’d take another long break, as he did in 2025, Rory had a different plan in mind.
He’s not disappearing for months this time. Instead, he’s taking a couple of weeks off before jumping back into PGA Tour action. The next big event on the calendar is the PGA Championship, starting May 14 at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, but it sounds like Rory wants to get some tournament play before then.
He talked about his mindset shift after winning again at Augusta. “My schedule’s going to be different this year,” he said on April 13. “Last year, I thought winning the Grand Slam would be the destination. But actually, it’s just part of the ride. Now that I’ve won my sixth major, I feel great about my game and my body.
“I waited ages to win the Masters, and then I won two in a row. I definitely want to enjoy this. I’ll take a couple weeks off, but I don’t think I’ll hit that motivation lull I felt last year after the win.”
So, what comes next for Rory? He’s skipping the RBC Heritage this week, and his appearance at the Zurich Classic isn’t confirmed either.
Then, there’s Donald Trump, who might’ve let the cat out of the bag. After congratulating Rory on social media, Trump said he was looking forward to watching him at Doral during the Cadillac Championship on April 30. That’s not an official confirmation, but it’s a pretty solid clue that Rory’s next start could be there.
Now that he’s up to six majors and finally has back-to-back Masters titles, Rory’s thinking ahead. The next big stop? The PGA Championship, where he’ll chase number seven. But he’s not feeling satisfied just yet.
“I don’t want to put a hard number on it, but this is just part of the journey,” he said. “I’ve still got things I want to accomplish even as I make sure I enjoy the moment, too.”
