Jordan Crawford‘s time with the Golden State Warriors in 2014 was short, but it left a lasting impression. Even in those early days, he could sense that the team – and particularly Stephen Curry – was on the verge of something special.
Appearing on the Gil’s Arena podcast, Crawford reflected on sharing the court with “the young splash brothers and Draymond” before they became the dynasty that would dominate the NBA for much of the next decade.
“You could just tell that they was on to something,” Crawford said, noting that Draymond Green was already making his presence felt on defense in only his second year in the league.
When the discussion turned to Curry, Crawford pointed to head coach Mark Jackson as a key figure in the guard’s development.
Jackson’s challenge that fueled Curry’s rise
According to Crawford, Jackson wasn’t afraid to push Curry out of his comfort zone, especially in matchups against elite point guards like Chris Paul.
“I remember Steph used to not do one-on-one battles with Chris Paul. And Mark Jackson used to make him. ‘The only way we gonna beat them is if you go at him.’ That was all Steph needed for real. That little battery in his back.”
That competitive fire became a hallmark of Curry‘s game. It helped him evolve into an offensive weapon who could score from anywhere – whether in isolation, coming off a screen, or stepping back beyond the arc.
Crawford admitted he couldn’t have predicted just how much Curry would eventually transform the game, but he saw clear signs of a team with a different kind of energy. “You could tell that it (Warriors) was different from the rest of the NBA. Just the juice,” he said.
From potential to powerhouse
What Crawford witnessed was the start of a historic run. Within a year, the Warriors would claim the first of four championships in six Finals appearances, powered by their revolutionary spacing and three-point shooting.
Curry became the face of that transformation. Regarded as the greatest shooter in NBA history, he not only expanded the limits of scoring range but also redefined the role of the point guard.
His off-ball movement, constant activity, and gravitational pull on defenses opened the floor in ways the league had never seen.
As the Warriors‘ influence spread, teams across the NBA – including their big men – began developing three-point shots just to keep up. The ripple effect of Curry‘s style can still be seen in today’s game.
For Crawford, watching it unfold from the very beginning was special. He may not have known that Curry would become a two-time MVP, a four-time champion, and a cultural icon, but he recognized the spark.
“When you see something different, you remember it,” he said. “And that team had it.”
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