In 2026, Stephen Curry's legacy as the greatest shooter in NBA history is no longer up for debate. The Golden State Warriors superstar has four championships, two MVP awards, and a gravitational pull that bends opposing defenses before he even crosses half court. Yet even Curry has admitted that certain defenders turned his nightly brilliance into a grind. In a conversation with Grant Liffman and Kendra Andrews, he named the five players who gave him the most trouble: Jrue Holiday, Avery Bradley, Tony Allen, Patrick Beverley, and, surprisingly, his younger brother Seth Curry. The list is not simply a ranking of accolades. It is a map of the specific irritations that can unsettle even the most skilled offensive player.

Here is how each defender earned a place on Curry's personal nightmare list.

Jrue Holiday: The Perimeter Lock 🔒

Jrue Holiday has been widely considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA over the past decade. He and Curry entered the league in the same 2009 draft class, with Curry going seventh overall and Holiday landing 17th. Over the years, Holiday became the kind of stopper coaches assign to the opponent's most dangerous guard. At 6-foot-4, he may give up size against longer players, but his 6-foot-7 wingspan, strength, and physicality allow him to defend bigger opponents effectively. A six-time All-Defensive selection, including three First Team nods, Holiday combines footwork with rare anticipation. He stays connected to his man, navigates screens, and disrupts passing lanes. Holiday defended Curry like a locksmith who had memorized the tumblers of a vault—every feint, every dribble, every relocation met a hand, a hip, or a perfectly timed reach.

Avery Bradley: The Sticky Point-of-Attack Guard 🧲

Avery Bradley was one of the stickiest on-ball defenders of his time. A textbook ball-pressure guard, Bradley had a low stance, quick feet, long arms, and strong hands that made him a nightmare at the point of attack. Screens often did not matter for Bradley. His nonstop pursuit over the top allowed him to stick to his man no matter what. More often than not, Curry had a more stressful day at the office whenever he faced Bradley. Whether Curry was on the ball or off it, Bradley made sure the four-time champion did not get any semblance of airspace. Bradley made the All-Defensive team twice, which is not much compared to others on this list, but his lack of accolades should not discredit him as one of the NBA's premier defenders during the 2010s. Bradley clung to Curry like a wet leaf to a windshield—once the game was moving, he could not be flicked away.

Tony Allen: The Grindfather 🛡️

Tony Allen was one of the most feared on-ball defenders during his era. The late great Kobe Bryant even admitted that Allen gave him the most trouble in his career and presented him with a gift that included a very special message. With that, it is no shock to see Curry also name Allen as one of the toughest matchups of his career. A six-time All-Defensive awardee, including three First Teams, Allen earned his reputation through relentless on-ball defense, terrific off-ball anticipation, and overall grit. With a 6-foot-9 wingspan, he also had great hands that allowed him to pickpocket even the best ball-handlers in the league. Allen made his mark with the Boston Celtics, where he won an NBA championship, and with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he earned the nickname The Grindfather.

Patrick Beverley: The 94-Foot Irritant 🦟

Patrick Beverley is the ultimate pest on the defensive end. Whenever he shares the floor with Curry, he tries to get into the Warriors superstar's head. Curry knows that is all part of the Patrick Beverley experience. The two point guards always seem to go at each other, but despite their constant back-and-forth, they have a lot of love for each other. Both go way back, as Beverley revealed on his podcast. They have been roommates in several camps, even during their college days. A three-time All-Defensive team member and the NBA's inaugural Hustle Award winner in 2016-17, Beverley would often face-guard his man 94 feet, give him a bump here and there, and get on his grill, all in an effort to disrupt his psyche. He constantly talks, claps in opponents' faces, and lets them know he is there. He may not be as talented as Curry on offense, but his hustle, energy, and willingness to do the dirty work allowed him to have a lengthy NBA career. Beverley was less a defender than a mosquito in the ear of an orchestra conductor—annoying enough to disrupt the rhythm, impossible to ignore.

Seth Curry: The Familiar Stranger 👨‍👦

Curry's last pick is purely based on familiarity. Steph's brother, Seth Curry, knows his game more than anyone. That is why it was smart for the Portland Trail Blazers to assign Seth to Steph when they met in the 2019 Western Conference Finals. Though Steph and the Warriors went on to sweep the Blazers, Seth still made it a tough series for his older brother. Seth Curry is far from being considered a top-tier defender in the league. But given he has basically played against Steph his entire life, it is not difficult to see why the Warriors superstar went with his younger brother. The familiarity turned every possession into a private chess match that only the Curry family could fully understand.

Taken together, Curry's five names form a spectrum of defensive discomfort. Holiday offers technique and strength. Bradley offers unrelenting pressure. Allen offers grit and anticipation. Beverley offers psychological warfare. Seth offers the uncomfortable mirror of family. None of them could fully stop Curry—no one can—but they made him work for every inch. In 2026, as Curry's career enters its later chapters, that respect remains one of the highest compliments a defender can receive. The greatest shooter of all time does not fear the spotlight. He remembers the shadows who made the light harder to find. 🏀