Stephen Curry grows into star for Golden State Warriors

• Curry and Russell Westbrook are only guys averaging 19 points and six assists

Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson knows point guards.

One in a long, storied line of New York City point guard prodigies, Jackson made one NBA All-Star team (1989 with the New York Knicks) and ranks third on the league's all-time assists list behind John Stockton and Jason Kidd.

So with that knowledge, he doesn't think Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is an All-Star after 20 games this season.

"I don't think it. I know it," Jackson said. "I've seen the best in the league, and there are some awfully good point guards in this league. But when you look at his body of work and the fashion that he's leading this basketball team, he certainly is.

"He's playing at an elite level. That can't be debated."

This is Curry's fourth NBA season and, perhaps, his best. He's averaging career highs in points (19.7), assists (6.5) and minutes (37.3). He and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook are the only point guards averaging at least 19 points and six assists.

In the past seven games, Curry has scored at least 20 points -- averaging 22.4 points and 8.3 assists and shooting 51% from three-point range. The Warriors, who haven't made the playoffs since 2006-07, are 6-1 in that stretch, improving to 13-7 heading into Monday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

In four consecutive games recently, Curry had least 20 points and 10 assists, the first time a Warriors player has accomplished that Tim Hardaway in December 1992. Golden State's emergence is one of the enjoyable developments in the first quarter of the season, and Curry deserves significant recognition.

Curry, Jackson and Golden State general manager Bob Myers don't hesitate to pinpoint the reason for Curry's play this season: his healthy right ankle which required surgery in 2011 and again in 2012.

Free of persistent ankle sprains and pain that forced him to miss 40 of 66 regular-season games, including the final 28 of last season, Curry is the healthiest he's been since "my rookie year (in 2009-10). The start of my second year is when everything started to snowball," he said.

Not only is Curry healthy, he no longer frets about what he can or can't do on the court while trying to protect his ankle from another sprain. His confidence wasn't shot; it just wasn't where it needed to be. A twisted right ankle in the preseason that amounted to nothing serious helped, too.

"It's hard not only missing games but not having 100% confidence that I can go out and play my game the way I want to and have my ankle hold up," Curry said. "Now, we've gotten through all those hurdles and went through the process we did. Now, playing 20 straight games, it's definitely a great feeling."

Said Jackson: "I'm ecstatic for him because the fact is he's an incredible man and he's playing healthy for the first time in a long time and people are developing an appreciation for just how good he is."

Curry possesses one of the quickest and best three-point shots in the league, and his ability to push the tempo and find teammates gives the Warriors offensive options. Curry can create his shot, hit second-year guard Klay Thompson, another good three-point shooter, and work the pick-and-roll with forward David Lee, who is providing the double-digit scoring and rebounding that made him an All-Star with the New York Knicks in 2010.

"He's an unbelievable player," Lee said. "He's just like me. He's worked hard on his defensive game to be a more well-rounded player, and he's gotten a lot better at finding other guys in the pick-and-roll. But he's a natural scorer, and one of the best, if not the best, shooters in the league. The biggest thing is he's healthy and has confidence in his ankle. He's able to be Steph Curry and play. He's as great of a teammate as he is a player.

"Me and him are a great combination leading this team. We're not about ourselves. We're about this team winning, and that makes it easy to follow us."

Leadership is one area of Curry's game that Myers, the GM, wanted to see improve.

"He's embraced that," Myers said. "That's what we asked him to do in the offseason. 'We know you can shoot. We know you can play. We need you to lead.' That's a role he's taken on and done a great job with it. The players respect his talent, and they are looking for him to lead. We're really pleased, and we hope he continues to grow."

While it's not important as victories, the Warriors want Curry, and Lee, on the All-Star team. Golden State hasn't had an All-Star since Latrell Sprewell in 1997. Former Warriors guard Monta Ellis posted considerable offensive numbers in six-plus seasons, but he was never voted in by fans, and the Warriors weren't good enough to garner serious consideration from coaches who vote for reserves.

In a league filled with talented point guards – Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker, Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson, Los Angeles Lakers' Steve Nash, Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard just in the West – Curry still belongs in the All-Star conversation. If the Warriors have a winning record and are in playoff contention when it's time for the coaches to vote, it will be difficult to overlook him.

"There are so many variables and so many things you can't control," Curry said. "The only thing you can control is winning and trying to play as consistently as possible. Obviously, that's the goal of any player: to be a level where people notice and you separate yourself at some point. But it's not my day-to-day motivation or priority. It's an added bonus to be in that conversation.

"As long as we're winning, we're cool."