This Date in NBA History (May 4): Stephen Curry named 2014-15 league MVP & more

Author Photo
Stephen Curry MVP

On May 4th in 2015, Stephen Curry was named league MVP for the 2014-15 season. 

He was the second player in Golden State Warriors history and the first in the team's West Coast era (since 1962-63) to receive the Maurice Podoloff Trophy — 55 years since Wilt Chamberlain won it as a rookie for the 1959-60 season. 

Then, 27 years old, Curry averaged 23.8 points (6th in NBA), 7.7 assists (6th in NBA), 4.3 rebounds and 2.04 steals (4th in NBA) in 80 games played. His season average of 32.7 minutes played is the lowest recorded by any MVP in NBA history. 

En route to knocking down an NBA record 286 three-pointers for the season, breaking his own previous record, Curry made at least one three-pointer in 79 of the 80 games he played. He ranked third in three-point shooting (44.3%) while leading the league in free-throw shooting (91.4%), plus/minus (+11.5) and net rating (17.0).

He led the Warriors to a franchise-record and a league-best 67 wins. Not to mention, the team's first-ever Division title since 1975-76. 

Out of a panel of 129 voters that consisted of sportswriters and broadcasters, Curry totaled 1,198 points, including 100 first-place votes. He was followed up by James Harden in second (936 points, 25 first-place votes) and LeBron James in third (552 points, 5 first-place votes). 

Other notable events on May 4

Dave DeBusschere and Wilt Chamberlain

  • In 1970, with Willis Reed sidelined, Dave DeBusschere, of the New York Knicks was forced to play center against the Los Angeles Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain in Game 5 of the 1970 NBA Finals. The Knicks ended up defeating the Lakers 107-100 and clinched their first championship in franchise history with a Game 7 victory a few days later.

  • In 1994, Charles Barkley dropped a career-high 56 points (23-of-31 FG; 3-of-4 3PT) in a 140-133 Game 3 win against the Golden State Warriors. He also recorded 14 rebounds, four assists, and three steals, helping the Suns sweep the Warriors in the first round. His 38 first-half points are an NBA playoff record.

  • In 2006, Kobe Bryant scored a playoff career-high 50 points in a 126-118 Game 6 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

  • In 2018, Rajon Rondo dished out a playoff career-high and franchise-record 21 assists in 119-110 Game 3 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the Conference Semifinals.

Game-winning buzzer-beater on May 4

Gilbert Arenas vs. Chicago Bulls in 2005

Notable Playoff eliminations on May 4

  • In 2014, the San Antonio Spurs, the first seed and the eventual NBA champions, won Game 7 at home against the eighth-seeded Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs would not play a Game 7 in any of the following rounds.

  • In 2014, Paul Pierce came up with a clutch block on Kyle Lowry in Game 7 on the road to help the Brooklyn Nets defeat the Toronto Raptors. This was the Raptors' fourth failed attempt in as many appearances to book their second-ever Conference Semifinals berth since 2001.

The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.

Author(s)