D’Angelo Russell on Stephen Curry: The Data Behind “I Don’t Need Referees”

The Mindset That Sets Curry Apart

When D’Angelo Russell said Stephen Curry plays with an “I don’t need referees” mentality, he wasn’t just praising his former teammate—he was highlighting a statistical anomaly in today’s NBA. As a sports data analyst, this comment immediately made me pull up the numbers.

Free Throw Dependency: A Telling Stat

Curry’s career average of 4.3 free throw attempts per game is remarkably low for a player of his caliber. Compare this to:

• James Harden (7.7 FTA/game)
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (9.1 FTA/game)
• Joel Embiid (8.5 FTA/game)

This isn’t just about foul-drawing ability—it’s about play style. Curry creates space through movement and shooting range rather than contact.

Efficiency Without the Whistle

What’s more impressive? His true shooting percentage:

• Career TS%: 62.6%
• 2022-23 season: 65.6%

These numbers show Curry maintains elite efficiency without relying on free throws for easy points—a rarity among high-volume scorers.

Defensive Impact Beyond Officiating

The data shows defenders guard Curry differently:

• Average defensive distance: 3.2 feet (closest in NBA among high-volume shooters)
• Contested shot percentage: 58%

Yet he still shoots 42.7% from three-point range on these contested attempts.

Conclusion: Redefining Dominance

Curry’s approach challenges traditional basketball analytics. While modern offenses often prioritize drawing fouls, he proves you can dominate through skill and spacing alone. As Russell noted—that’s why he’s so respected.