Shump has had an integral part in many great moments that defined the Mr. Curry’s career.
Happy Holiday Dub Nation. As you’re perusing holiday shopping and kicking it with your fam bam, let me throw some links at you to get your basketball IQ up.
Full Disclosure: I’ve been having a lot of fun listening to Iman Shumpert’s podcast performances.
During his time in the league he was an energetic force at guard, part lockdown defender and part crafty scorer. Shump carved out a career as one of the league’s most reliable perimeter defenders, the guy you called when you needed to strap a seatbelt on an opposing star player.
He didn’t just guard people—he flustered them, harassed them, and left them wondering why he wouldn’t just chill. His quick hands, relentless intensity, and ability to show up in big moments made him a perfect fit for those Cleveland Cavaliers teams that went toe-to-toe with Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors.
That’s why I’ve been enjoying Shumpert discussing the impossible task of squaring off against Curry in multiple iterations, all the way back to Madison Garden when Shump was a New York Knick.
Let’s keep it 1000% real: guarding Curry is like trying to hold water in your hands. He’s darting around screens, launching threes from places that should require a passport, and smiling at you while doing it. But Shump was built for this gargantuan trial. He chased Curry like his paycheck depended on it—because, well, it kind of did. He’d fight through every Draymond Green or Andrew Bynum screen, contest every shot, and occasionally force Steph into one of those rare “oops, even I’m human” moments.
Sure, Curry still got his buckets. I mean, he’s Stephen Curry, after all. But Shumpert made him work for them. And when Shump wasn’t shadowing Curry like a second heartbeat, he was diving on the floor for loose balls, finishing fast breaks with emphatic dunks, and rocking his trademark high-top fade like he was straight out of an NBA 2K custom player screen.
Shump’s career might not have been about gaudy stats or highlight reels, but he was essential. He embodied the Cavs’ gritty spirit during their epic battles with the Warriors. So while Curry may have been the headliner, Shumpert was that critical supporting actor who kept the drama alive.