Le'Veon Bell thinks he is changing the way running backs play in the NFL, much like how Steph Curry has revolutionised the way basketball is played in the NBA.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Bell and his approach has been described as a patient running style that involves the offensive line holding the defense for a longer period of time, which then allows big holes to appear and for the two-time Pro Bowler to make huge rushing gains.

And Bell believes he is to the NFL what two-time reigning MVP Curry is to the NBA.

"I think I'm changing the game," Bell told Bleacher Report. "In that sense, I'm what Steph Curry is to basketball.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily think Steph Curry is the best basketball player, but he changed the game so he's going to always go down as being remembered. Now, everyone wants to shoot the three and shoot it from deep."

Curry's Golden State Warriors team-mate Draymond Green said he used to play pick-up basketball with Bell when they both were at Michigan State, and that the comparison to Curry is not unfounded.

"That patience he has as a runner has never been seen before," Green told Bleacher Report.

"You had Barry Sanders, who shook you out of your socks. Quick as grease. You had 'The Bus' [Jerome Bettis] and his power running. You have super-fast runners. But a runner with the patience he has? I mean, I don't know if we've ever seen that. He's a special runner who's definitely transcending the game and it's fun to watch.

"No one else in the NFL runs like that, but I guarantee you, there will be some runners coming out — and there's probably some in the NFL now — that'll try to take on that technique."

Bell set the Steelers' franchise record with most rushing yards in last week's playoff victory against the Miami Dolphins, when he ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns.