Steph Curry Emotionally Pays Tribute To Jerry West After Surpassing Him In NBA Scoring

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Steph Curry expressed deep emotions after surpassing Jerry West to become the NBA's 25th all-time leading scorer during the Golden State Warriors' triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies. Curry's impressive performance included 52 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, contributing to the Warriors' 134-125 win. This victory improved their season record to 44-31.

Curry's achievement marked the first time a Golden State player reached such stats since Rick Barry in March 1974. It was also Curry's 15th game scoring at least 50 points, surpassing both Barry and LeBron James, and equalling Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks. Reflecting on his milestone, Curry paid tribute to former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jerry West, who passed away last June. "I got a little emotional about that," Curry said regarding surpassing West. "It was special. In his memory."

The last time Curry played in Memphis, the Warriors suffered a significant defeat by 51 points. However, they avoided repeating that outcome on Tuesday. This victory propelled Golden State past Memphis into fifth place in the Western Conference standings. Despite this achievement, Curry mentioned that their previous loss did not motivate him for this game. "I had actually forgotten," he said when asked if their earlier defeat inspired him.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised Curry's outstanding performance, describing it as incredible. Kerr has witnessed many of Curry's remarkable displays but was particularly amazed by one shot in the second quarter. "Fifty-two points with people draped all over him," Kerr remarked. "I've been watching this for 11 years... You get a real sense of just the magnitude of his talent."

Curry also shared how taking a week off helped him recover from a left pelvic bruise sustained in a previous game against Toronto Raptors. "I feel in a good rhythm," he noted, adding that the rest period rejuvenated him and filled his energy tank.

Curry's recent performance also saw him make an impressive number of three-pointers, hitting 12 in one game for only the third time in his career. This feat brought him close to both his personal best and Klay Thompson’s NBA record for most three-pointers in a single game.

Overall, Steph Curry’s remarkable achievements continue to highlight his exceptional skills on the court while paying homage to basketball legends like Jerry West who have paved the way before him.