Miller: Steph, Klay are 'top 3 or 4' backcourt in NBA history - NBCSports.com

Most objective observers, including Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, can agree that Steph Curry and Klay Thompson comprise the best backcourt in the NBA today.

But have they done enough to be considered the best backcourt in NBA history?

Miller isn't ready to go that far, but he's willing to consider it.

"Not of all-time, but they are certainly in the conversation," Miller said on The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday. "They are the best backcourt in today's game, obviously, so certainly, I would put them in the top 3 or 4. And you've got to look at the body of work, three championships together. Yeah, Klay and Steph are definitely there."

[RELATED: Kerr's guess on Curry's return]

So what other backcourt tandems would Miller put in the conversation with Curry and Thompson?

Miller and Patrick discussed Michael Jordan and "whomever else," Magic Johnson and Byron Scott, Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier, and Gail Goodrich and Jerry West.

Even if the Splash Brothers aren't considered the greatest backcourt in the history of the NBA, it's still pretty impressive that they are being mentioned in this conversation with those names listed above. And the great thing is, they aren't even close to the end of their careers.

The wait is almost over. Steph Curry's return to the Warriors lineup has been decided.

Head coach Steve Kerr announced Wednesday evening that Curry will play Saturday in Detroit.

That means that Curry won't play Thursday night in the highly anticipated matchup between the Warriors and Raptors.

"He wants to play, he's ready to play, but we're just going to be extra cautious," Kerr told the media in Toronto. "[Head trainer Rick Celebrini] felt very strongly on his years of experience doing this stuff that it makes sense to be extra careful."

Curry was pushing to return in Toronto, a place where he spent part of his childhood when his father Dell played for the Raptors.

"It's been three weeks or so, so I'm itching to get back, obviously excited that the end is near," Curry told reporters. "Love coming to Toronto, so it's a little disappointing."

Curry has missed the last 10 games due to a left groin strain. During that time, the Warriors lost four straight and have a 5-5 record. With Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson carrying the load, the Warriors have won their last three games.

Additionally, forward Draymond Green won't play Thursday either as he recovers from a sprained toe.

Kerr says Draymond Green will not play Thursday. He will be out at least a couple more games as he recovers from a toe injury.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 29, 2018

Programming note: Watch Thursday night's Warriors-Raptors game streaming live at 5 p.m. PT on the MyTeams app.

The 2018-19 campaign is the final season at Oracle Arena. But Warriors TV brodcaster Jim Barnett doesn't believe this will be Kevin Durant's final season in a Golden State uniform.

"We'll wait and see what Kevin Durant does, but quite frankly -- I think Kevin Durant is gonna be around for a lot of years," Barnett said Wednesday morning on 95.7 The Game.

Speculation about Durant's future began before the Warriors had even won the 2018 NBA championship. The topic heated up at Media Day, got even warmer when the Warriors visited the Knicks about a month ago, and reached soaring temperatures when the drama surrounding his heated argument with Draymond Green blew up.

Things have cooled down the last week or so, but the conversation certainly will pick back up at some point this season.

"Despite what people may speculate, I think this team is gonna stay together and they're gonna be the best team in the league for some years, and they're gonna try to win more championships," Barnett added. "It's as simple as that."

Well, OK then.

Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller

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