Pundit high on Warriors' potential

It was a question to fill a segment on ESPN's “First Take,” even if it drew immediate eye rolls from Stephen A. Smith and host Molly Qerim. But Smith and longtime NBA player Kendrick Perkins debated it anyway.

Does Stephen Curry need another title to solidify his legacy?

That is the question they asked the two-time Most Valuable Player (and only unanimous winner of the award) and three-time champion on Friday morning, ahead of Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday.

Perkins brought up a tried-and-true point that many Warriors and Curry critics have brought up over the years, which is the lack of a Finals MVP trophy on Curry's resume. Perkins acknowledged that Curry is an “all-time great” but argued that Curry is not a top10 player as of now.

But Perkins also said that no, he doesn't “need” a title, and Smith said that, too. Smith says Curry is “the greatest shooter ever.”

“I think that's enough,” Smith said. “The fact that you're a champion, that you aren't a weak link to your team, that you didn't fall off the mat once the postseason arrived. And on top of it all, you're recognized as the greatest shooter that ever lived. I think that's enough. And I don't think he needs an MVP in the Finals to solidify that.”

Perhaps the most surprising notion on First Take, though, is how bullish Smith is about Golden State's championship potential right now and for the next few years, when Curry would still be at or near his peak, health permitting.

“I think the Warriors are gonna win two titles in the next three years,” Smith said. “When you talk (James) Wiseman coming back, when you talk about (Jonathan) Kuminga developing …”

Perkins and Qerim both pushed back at Smith at this point, especially on the second-year center's availability. But Smith went on, “Any big dude that can give them 15, 20 minutes and six fouls. That's all that they need. That's all they need. They don't need anything else.”

That would, of course, give Curry more chances at winning that Finals MVP trophy that Perkins seems to think Curry is missing. But Smith knows the truth of the criticism, too — and seems to be on Curry's side.

“He can win a Finals MVP and there are still gonna be people that have questions about his legacy,” Smith said.