It’s becoming more common for NBA stars to keep playing effectively after their 40th birthday. That’s still nearly three years away for Stephen Curry, and the Warriors star told Mark Medina of EssentiallySports that he plans to take care of his body so there will be a choice to make when the time arrives.
“All I’ll say is that I just want the option and if I’m at a legitimate ability to be able to play,” Curry said. “I don’t know if it’ll make sense or if I would want to, whatever the case is. But if I can make the decision and the decision is not made for me, that’s a big, big point.”
Curry is still at the top of his game as he enters his 17th year in the NBA. He was a second-team All-NBA selection last season and an All-Star for the 11th time. He appeared in 70 games, averaging 24.5 points in 32.2 minutes per night, and remains one of the league’s most feared long-distance shooters, connecting at 39.7% from beyond the arc while leading the NBA in three-pointers attempted and made.
Intense offseason workouts are among the secrets to Curry’s longevity. His trainer, Brandon Payne, told Medina that this summer focused on strength training and speeding up his decision-making process.
“A lot of it is the foundational work that I’ve put in since I started,” Curry said. “One, I still love it. I’m blessed with being with a team around me that has helped take the spirit that I’m trying to put into it and give me the framework that keeps the body limber and loose and the injury prevention stuff. The rest of it is a toughness to get out there and do the work. I still love and want to keep it going.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Steve Kerr ponders his future with the organization in an article by Anthony Slater of ESPN that examines the coach’s long, successful relationship with Curry. Kerr, who’s entering the final year of his contract, said he wouldn’t choose to leave Golden State for another coaching job. “Management and ownership would have to want it to continue,” he said. “I would have to want it to continue. Steph would have to. I’m not finishing my contract and saying, ‘All right, I think I’ll go leave for such and such job around the league somewhere. That’s not happening.”
- Brandin Podziemski left Friday’s preseason finale in the first quarter with an injury, Slater tweets. He suffered a left hip contusion in a first quarter fall and had to be helped to the locker room by trainer Rick Celebrini. However, he was able to return to action in the second half, suggesting he should be fine for the start of the regular season (Twitter link).
- Seth Curry, who was waived Saturday as the Warriors made their final roster cuts, can’t return until November 11 at the earliest because the team can’t fit his prorated veteran’s minimum salary under its second apron hard cap for the first few weeks of the season. That’s why he didn’t see any playing time during the preseason, per Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle. “Because he got here late and just because of the nature of everything, I’m trying to see other people as well,” Kerr said. “I’m not worried about Seth. He’s not worried about it. He’s coming along nicely.”
Honestly, something in me tells me Steph will become the oldest MVP in nba history. I would love for that to happen but the odda are so slim.
We only care about Finals MVP
I care about everything sadly
Curry has talked about playing into his 40s pretty often, it’s obvious he could do it. Kyle Korver is basically dollar store Curry, and he played and was effective in his role til 38, he could have kept going too. Being Curry is 10x the type of player Korver was, Curry really could go to 45+ in he wanted to ease up his minutes and be a role player. He still is a top 5 guy in this league, even if MVP and FMVP voters are often stupid about it and put lesser guys over him and his performance. Steph has not fallen off at all, and up until his hamstring injury was in middle of his prime form.
If players made equal to the % of people who watch the NBA product they attracted in, Steph Curry would make a billion dollars a season lmao
I would lile to see Curry to transition to 6th man in 2 yrs if not sooner, and also accept much less contract. The more he wins the more he will make offcourt anyways.
Curry will be top 5 MPG/starter for the next 5 years at least. Starting isn’t that big a deal anyway.
Wonder what team he will finish his career with
Well, there are posters here who insist he wants to play with Giannis, so I’m guessing Milwaukee.
Giannis seems intrigued by NY. Knicks couldn’t pull it off with both of them, maybe they settle for Brooklyn. That’d be cool. I’ve always thought Steph would want to go home the Charlotte in the twilight of his career, tbh.
“Brandin Podziemski left Friday’s preseason finale with an injury, Slater tweets. He suffered a left hip contusion in a first quarter fall and had to be helped to the locker room by trainer Rick Celebrini.”
Podz came back in the 3rd quarter and looked fine, imo.
Steph absolutely looks as amazing as he always has…truly remarkable. These preseason games at Chase have been a great time.
Good thing too since Moody will probably be out till the end of the month and Melton probably mid November at earliest.
“Podz came back in the 3rd quarter and looked fine”
So in your opinion, 0 pts on 0-1 shooting with 0 reb 0 ast 0 steals and blocks 2 TOs team worst +/- of -5 in 8.5 mins in the 3rd Q is “fine”?
Rookie Will Richard probably starts in the opener.
> Rookie Will Richard probably starts in the opener.
Ahead of Buddy Hield?
@aristotle
Because of POA defense against Doncic and Reaves’ size, yes.
– – > Will Richard start opening night? I say……yyyyyeeeeeaaahhhhsssss
LOL !!!!!!!
Why is anyone worried about when Curry retires? He will bow out when he knows its time. Like what Lebron found out once you are over the 40 years mark the body doesn’t respond to healing fast from injuries.
This is just my two cents, but for those guys still playing ball here’s what you have to look forward to.
Everything is fantastic till about 32. Game even gets better up until that point. Athleticism is still excellent.
There seems to be a drop off at 40. Instead of playing great every game, one out of four games you play like crap. Turnovers, shot doesn’t fall, your guy scores more than you would like, things like that.
There’s another drop at 45. You still play great two out of four times. Same things as I mention above happen more often but you still able to play at a high-level at 45.
After 45 you don’t have the big drop off but rather it’s a slow descent of ineffectiveness. 48 you still get it done, 51 etc. but each year is a step down in production and effectiveness.
When you hit 55 everything collapses. I mean everything. There’s a massive drop off at 55 and many guys retire at double nickels. Hang up the tank top shorts and the KD‘s become gardening shoes.
After 55 it’s another slow descent and you’re just hoping to be an effective player and actually you get it done one out of every four times or five times out there. You still score you still block shots. You still lock guys down, the jumper of course doesn’t go away, but it’s one of every four times or five times getting out there. Glimmers of glory are rare, but they happen. You can still win a game with a move or a shot.
At 60 it’s over. You’re out there for exercise, you score couple times a game, but really it’s over. You just hope you don’t get hurt. You’re out there for exercise and there’s way too many times when you’re walking up the court on offense and your team is playing four on five. You get back on defense, but take the breaks on offense.
I’ll let you know how it goes in five years. I hope to still be out there knocking down threes in their unsuspecting eyes.
In fact, yesterday, I grabbed the board, led the break myself and popped a top of the key three. The defender said “no way,” as I let it fly, but of course I nailed it. The eye of the tiger is revealed once in a while. But in case you were wondering, yes, that was the only basket I had that game lol
For those who have read this far, I’m going to copy this little write up and perhaps use it when appropriate in another thread. Hope you don’t mind reading it twice in that case.. Thank you for your grace.
You got all that right. After 40 you see it go down. After 50 its all about aches and pains. By the time you are 60 you wonder if you can do normal things without pulling something. I would like to know how anyone can go skiing after 60.
Steph and Green are among the-many that go to Germany for Platelet/Plasma enrichment treatments…