A Simple Chart That Shows Why Stephen Curry Is So Valuable

The use of the three-point shot in the NBA has changed dramatically in the last 25 years. As the NBA game has become more about playing good defense, teams need long-distance shooters to survive.

And nobody is as good from downtown as Stephen Curry.

During Larry Bird's last championship season (1985-86) NBA teams averaged just 3.3 three-point attempts per game. And during Michael Jordan's last championship season (1997-98) teams averaged 12.7 attempts per game.

But this season, three-point attempts were at their highest mark ever (20.0) and 21.9% of all points scored came from behind the arc (only 2.6% of points came via 3-pointers in 1985-86). During the regular season, Curry alone averaged 7.7 attempts and 3.5 shots made per game.

Unless the NBA does something to make three-point shots more difficult or worth less, players like Curry are the future of the NBA...

Data via Basketball-Reference.com