Stephen Curry is the best point guard in basketball (definitely). He’s the most impactful offensive player in the history of the game (according to his coach and former teammate of Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr). He’s the leader of the defending champion Golden State Warriors (in the words of former MVP Kevin Durant). He’s a two-time MVP, and the only Unanimous one in the history of the league (facts).

Without his presence in the playoffs, the Warriors were supposed to be dead in the water:

Thank goodness he’s back, as he proved in last night’s 121-116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Return of the Mack

In his first game back since Javale McGee accidentally barreled into his slender knee on March 23rd, the “Golden Child” humbly sat on the bench for the majority of the first quarter. He patiently waited for his team, or for, dare I say, the moment to beckon his prodigious talent.

Stephen Curry said it felt like an eternity waiting to get in the game coming off the bench. #Warriorspic.twitter.com/RxXCzYqxV3 — John Dickinson (@JDJohnDickinson) May 2, 2018

The Pelicans gamely tussled with the champs early on. They were hellbent on stealing Game 2 in Oakland and flapping their wings to take this series back to their boisterous home crowd. It was clear the Dubs would need Curry to play well in his return, despite possible rust from his five week absence due to a strained MCL.

When he finally did clock in with a little over four minutes to play in the first period, I was reminded that Curry had been in similar territory before.

Stephen Curry enters the game, the second time he's come off the bench in 76 career playoff games. In his previous stint as a reserve, Curry tallied 40 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes on May 9, 2016 at Portland. — Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) May 2, 2018

As he purposefully strode down the sideline from the bench to the scorers table to check in, the home crowd fluttered with pent up excitement. The hum lifted into a desperately appreciative fervor as the arena recognized that their hero, their King Slayer, their game-changing megastar had finally returned from depressing injury.

Steph Curry receives a warm welcome back from #DubNation and buries the triple on his first possession!#NBAPlayoffs @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/cRoNaN24NG — NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2018

With all eyes on Curry, he immediately reminded the NBA how he revolutionized basketball forever. His very first shot was the golden result of the system of trust, speed, teamwork, repetition, accuracy, and disrespect that he injects into Warriors basketball.

He unselfishly shared the ball with his teammate Draymond Green at the top of the key, trusting Green to know what to do with it. He then sprinted across the court with jarring quickness for a man who supposedly had a bum knee around a screen from young teammate Kevon Looney. In perfectly choreographed timing, he immediately received a pass back from Green. Curry’s defender had managed to stay close enough in the vicinity to render any shot attempt a tough one. Unfortunately for Jrue Holiday, Curry has probably practiced this shot 20 billion times. “Unanimous” is the greatest NBA sniper of all time: he pours tough shots into a milk filled bowl every morning for breakfast. #BANG #CurryBack #WeaponizedJoy

The crowd erupted after the Curry make, and he stuck his tongue out celebrating as he skipped back to defense. His return party would only get more lit from there.

Steph with no signs of rust pic.twitter.com/e3FoMBr8X1 — Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 2, 2018

Steph Curry hasn't played for 5.5 weeks and didn't play the first 8 minutes. But he's come off the bench and is already the first to 10 points in this game. — Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 2, 2018

Stephen Curry's first game since March 23:

- 28 points, 8-for-15 FG, 5-for-10 3s, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 6 turnovers, +26 (next closest Warrior was Looney at +7) — Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) May 2, 2018

This dude takes and makes the shots that would get most players benched on any level of basketball. On a night that his fellow Splash Bro Klay Thompson struggled (4-of-20 shooting from the field) and Kevin Durant didn’t get loose until he dropped 15 fourth quarter points, Curry was crucial.

Despite Green’s near triple double of 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists, Curry is the clear Warrior Wonder for last night.

Hey Barry Bonds, what do you think?

What a weapon to dust off right in time for the second round of the playoffs.