Even the ageless wonders of the world have expiry dates. The NBA’s greatest shooter is no exception.
Steph Curry, 36, tells ESPN’s Malika Andrews that he’s thinking about retirement “more than I probably have before.”
“It’s okay to accept and acknowledge that the end is near,” Curry continued in the video, posted by NBA on ESPN. “But only because it allows you to enjoy what’s happening right now. But I think the more you talk about it and the more you acknowledge it, the more it levels up the sense of urgency in the moment, now.”
.@malika_andrews with Stephen Curry on his 16-year NBA career and how much longer he wants to play professional basketball. pic.twitter.com/s8SDWSHCwm
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 24, 2024
The future Hall of Famer is under contract through 2025-26 and he, probably, isn’t going anywhere just yet.
Still, the question remains: how many more opportunities will the basketball world have to revel in quintessential Curry?
Steph’s father, Dell, played a total of 16 NBA seasons. This year, 2024-25, is Steph’s 16th.
And while there’s no question that the four-time champion, 10-time All Star, two-time scoring champion and two-time MVP is still playing elite level basketball, his totals and usage have been declining steadily for some time now.
In 2022-23, his age-34 season, Curry averaged nearly 35 minutes and 30 points per game.
The following year, those averages dropped to about 33 and 26, respectively.
Through his first 26 games of this season, Curry has played 31 minutes a night and averaged 21.8 points per contest.
His 43.5 field-goal percentage is the second-lowest mark of his career, and the 40.3 average from behind the arc is his third worst.
And in Golden State’s blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies last week, Curry was uncharacteristically abysmal. For the first time ever, he did not make a single field goal over the course of the contest (minimum 12 minutes played).
Even if Curry is about ready to admit it’s near the end, Golden State isn’t.
The franchise has continued to build around their aging superstar, most recently with the acquisition of Dennis Schroder. In return for the 31-year-old, the Warriors shipped De’Anthony Melton, Reece Beekman and three second round picks to the Nets.
Taken all together, and notwithstanding the comments or the decline, Curry, of course, is not hanging them up tomorrow. But when the Warriors and Lakers face off in their Christmas Spectacular, when a 39-year-old LeBron James posts up against a 36-year-old Curry, breathe deep, hug a loved one.
These are the good times, we’re living in ‘em.
