The smile and sharp eye contact Stephen Curry usually exhibits soon faded away. Instead, Curry pursed his lips and looked at the table beneath him.

A reporter informed the Warriors guard that ESPN NBA analyst and former NBA player Paul Pierce considered Washington guard John Wall the NBA’s best point guard, even over a player like Curry who usually tops that list. Does that register with him?

Curry shook his head before declining to say anything. His body language may have revealed enough.

The Warriors (3-2) host the Washington Wizards (3-1) on Friday at the Oracle, giving Curry an opportunity to prove his supremacy over Wall. While Curry leads the NBA among point guards in points per game (29.2) and free-throw attempts and percentage (47-of-47), Wall ranks second in the league in assists per game (9.8). While Curry has won two NBA MVP awards and appeared in four All-Star games, Wall has also made four All-Star appearances.

Statistics and accolades aside, Pierce recently said on ESPN that he finds Wall “the best point guard in the league” because of things a box score does not reveal.

“First off, he’s so fast and dynamic,” Pierce said about Wall. “You can’t get up on him and crowd him; that’s when he drives to the hole. He’ll dunk on you with the left, with the right. He has the handles of a small guy, even though he stands 6-3. He has the speed of an NFL running back. So you pretty much have to give him space and let him shoot the jumper. If not, he’ll embarrass you all night.”

Curry might not agree with Pierce’s commentary. But Curry also praised Wall “with how fast he is and in creating for himself and others.” Do those qualities spark enough appreciation for Wall?

“I think so. It’s not for me to say. But he’s an All-Star and will continue to be an All-Star,” Curry said. “I know what he does night in and night out. He’s always in that conversation anytime I hear the subjective list of top point guards in the league. His name is always up there. So he’s not sneaking up on anybody.”

And according to Pierce, Wall has already surpassed everybody.