Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry isn’t close to retiring from the NBA yet, but he recently explained what will factor into his decision when the time eventually comes.
Speaking to The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson during a wide-ranging interview on The Athletic Show alongside his father, Dell Curry, Steph Curry said his body will ultimately determine when it’s time to step away from the game.
“I think your body is the first point of information,” Curry said before his recent bout with runner’s knee. “Just what it takes to get ready for a game is a lot different now than it was a decade ago. When I’m out there on the court right now, I still get lost in the fun. It’s still my happy place. All the work is worth it because I get to go out there and hoop at the highest level. The competition, the camaraderie, the chasing something that matters — that still gets me going. And I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.”
Curry, who turns 38 on Saturday, is in the midst of his 17th season and continues to put up superstar numbers, averaging 27.2 points a game for the Warriors. The bigger concern this season for Curry has been his health. He has played in just 39 games this season due to injuries and has been sidelined since leaving a loss to the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 30. It remains unclear if he’ll be able to return before the end of the season.
Curry has always spoken with respect and admiration about his father’s 16-year career. He says he still gets a kick out of when an opponent tells him to stop moving around so much during a game — something he prioritized early in his own development.
“I had that perspective that I had to be the most well-conditioned,” Curry said. “Even if I didn’t really know how to maximize at the time, it was always kind of a thought and there was a priority to it. So it’s one of my favorite compliments that I get in the middle of a game. Somebody guard me at a free-throw dead-ball or something. We stand next to each other come and be like, ‘Yo, stop moving so much.’”
After watching his son earn four NBA championships and two MVP awards, Dell Curry marvels at not only Steph’s conditioning but also his mental toughness and commitment to playing within a team system.
While it remains unclear how many seasons Curry has left, Dell had a simple rule that he lived by during his own career — one that could influence his son’s decision someday.
“Sixteen years went by so fast,” said Dell, who’ll have his jersey retired by the Charlotte Hornets next week. “So my rule is that you play as long as you can — then play one more year.”