It looks like some narratives never get old in the NBA media. Analysts and talking heads across the mediascape have been discussing Kevin Durant’s place amongst the league’s greatest recently with the playoff push just up ahead, and just like every time this gets overdone, Stephen Curry’s name is brought into it.

While not a direct slight, media figures like Max Kellerman continue to use reductive language when it comes to Steph (and Klay Thompson as well, to a degree): “Greatest shooter ever”. It seems ridiculous and nit-picky to fault someone for calling him that, but it’s one of the narratives that has plagued Curry since he’s been an All-Star: “He’s just a shooter”.

Right up there with the false accusations that Curry isn’t clutch, the lack of respect for him as a versatile scorer who is top 5 in probably every important list you can pick subjectively to define great scorers (his jumper, his finishing, his midrange game, his handle and separation) continues to be astounding. So we’re going to look this time at where Steph especially shows he’s more than just a shooter: When it matters most.

Amongst the top 10 4th-quarter scorers per game this season, Steph Curry ranks 10th in minutes played at 7.2. He ranks 4th in points per 4th quarter, and is the only other player than Giannis Antetokounmpo to average more points than minutes played in that situation. He ranks 2nd of that group, shooting 40% from three behind Zion Williamson… Who he averages 3 more triples than (3.3 versus 0.2) per contest.

We don’t need to highlight Steph’s three-ball, though: That defeats the point of the argument. He gets his points while being dead last in 4th quarter free throw attempts anyways. Of the top 10 players in 4th quarter 2-point field goal attempts, he ranks 4th at 57.6%, and is tied for 1st in effective field goal percentage at 59%. As far as scoring those buckets off the dribble, amongst players taking 1.5 shots on more than 7 dribbles in that same quarter, he ranks 2nd in 2-point field goal percentage at 57.9%, and 3rd in effective field goal percentage at 56.9%.

All this is to prove that he can play inside the arc, and while his shot is obviously his greatest weapon, he can capitalize on his versatile offensive skillset to close games out. But it doesn’t stop there: When comparing his skills to the NBA’s leading 4th quarter scorer this season, Kyrie Irving, we can see that he’s actually posting better numbers in the paint: Steph finishes at 81% at the basket versus Irving’s 72%, despite only taking half of an attempt less there.

Curry’s full scoring versatility is comparable to (and in some regards, better than) a player many people would consider a highly-versatile scorer who’s got everything in the bag and has the clutchest gene the league’s ever seen since the late great Kobe Bryant. This is not to take away from Kyrie Irving’s success: In fact, he’s a highly-impressive player, one of the most skilled of our time. But to say he’s so many leagues ahead of Steph, who’s “just a shooter” is entirely asinine.

Curry’s been a league-leading clutch scorer for multiple seasons now: While he’s been great, this hasn’t even been his best ones. These stats only tell half the story of course, but just watching the games shows how good he’s been despite so many attempts to discredit his greatness. There have been plenty of 4th quarters, especially early in the season, where the Warriors wouldn’t have much of a chance to close the game out without him. And while he’s been far from perfect at the end of the game, it’s obvious that Steph’s brightest moments clearly weigh greater than the so few times he doesn’t show up.

(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)