Stephen Curry similar to Tim Duncan and Steve Nash - Golden State Warriors coach

Steph Curry is comparable to Tim Duncan and Steve Nash, according to Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

Curry was named the 2015 NBA MVP on Tuesday, beating Houston Rockets star James Harden and Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James.

Kerr said the 27-year-old point guard had incredible confidence, similar to NBA greats Duncan and Nash.

"This is what I see with all three: incredible confidence, amazing skill," Kerr said.

"Confidence to the point where maybe you dribble behind your back 30 times and take a fadeaway 35-footer and your coach is going, 'Oh, my God, what are you doing? Great shot. Great shot. Way to go.' That kind of confidence. Like never ending self-belief.

"Nash had that, Duncan has that, Steph has that. Yet the foundation beneath all that is this incredible humility and humanity and a quiet strength."

The Warriors are favourites to win the NBA title and hold a 1-0 lead over the Memphis Grizzlies in their Western Conference semi-final.

But Curry said he would take the time to appreciate and celebrate his award.

"Obviously, we're in the middle of a play-off run and that is the most important thing, but today is a celebration, for sure," he said.

"I want to be able to take the time to really appreciate what this means, and that's why we're here."

Curry recalled not being highly rated in high school, while he was taken with pick seven in 2009.

"You'd think there are no hurdles or obstacles that I had to overcome, but even when I got to high school I wasn't ranked. I wasn't ranked. I wasn't highly touted as a high school prospect," he said.

"I had nobody really running, knocking on my door saying please, please, please come play for our school until coach [Bob] McKillop called."