Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with father Dell Curry (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Dell Curry was one of the top shooters of his era during a 16-year NBA career, but his son, Steph Curry, has emerged as the greatest shooter of all time.
The 37-year-old is still playing at a high level with the Golden State Warriors, coming off a season in which he went to the All-Star Game for the 11th time while averaging 24.5 points and 6.0 assists and converting on 93.3% of his free-throw attempts—the second-highest rate of his career.
Curry—along with Jimmy Butler—led the Warriors to a second-half resurgence that saw Golden State go 23-8 following Butler’s midseason acquisition, including 21-5 when both he and Curry were in the lineup.
Curry’s Longevity Fueled by Discipline and Passion
If not for Curry’s injury in the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves—he missed the final four games of the series—they could have very well advanced deeper into the postseason.
“I continue to be impressed with the way Steph is playing at a high level. All-Star level at this stage is great,” says Dell Curry in an interview with RG.
“It’s just a testament to how hard he works in the offseason to prepare his body for the rigors of the regular season. He’s been in the gym pretty quickly since he was able to get that hamstring cleared up, and he’s been in the gym, in the weight room, working on his body, making sure his strength and his core and everything’s ready to go.”
The elder Curry raves about his son’s work ethic, citing it as a major reason why he remains one of the top players in the game today despite being 16 years into his career. Curry is the 12th-oldest player in the NBA.
“That’s the thing you don’t see, and that’s the reason why he’s able to play at the level he is when no one’s watching,” says Curry. “You have to get up before the kids get up. Get a workout in, get the kids up, get them off to school, get to the gym, get shots, pick them up, handle your business side of things during the day, hang out with the family, get them to bed, and then he goes back to the gym again.”
Of the 12 oldest players in the NBA, Curry—along with LeBron James—remains one of the only ones still playing at an All-Star level. He’s also coming off a regular season in which he appeared in 70 games, the second consecutive year he’s played at least 70 games.
Curry, who has shown no signs of retiring anytime soon, could very well play deep into his 40s due to his play style. The 6-foot-2 guard is a pure shooter who doesn’t rely on a physical style of play to make his mark. It also doesn’t hurt that Curry has never been known as a defensive stopper, which has likely limited his wear and tear compared to other players.
Warriors Star Remains an Elite Performer at 37
The elder Curry believes his son could play deep into his 40s due to that style.
“Absolutely, just because he can shoot the basketball, and he’s going to require attention,” says Curry. “Even if you put him in the corner at 40, 41 years old, you have to guard him. That means that he’s creating space for other guys around him. If you can shoot the basketball, there’s a team that can use you in today’s NBA. But if you’re Steph Curry, I think you’re going to be able to play until you say, ‘I’m done.’”
The 60-year-old Curry played a long time in the NBA, debuting in 1986 with the Utah Jazz and playing his final game in 2002 with the Toronto Raptors. He appeared in 1,083 regular-season games and 51 postseason contests. By comparison, his son Steph has played in 1,026 regular-season games and 155 postseason games.
That doesn’t include his recent run with Team USA at the 2024 Olympics, when he helped lead them to the gold medal.
“I think it’ll come down to—not necessarily his skill, or what he can do in a game in the season,” says Curry. “I think it’s a matter of, can he go through the rigors of preparing himself to play in an NBA season? I know when I retired, that was a big factor. I just didn’t feel like I had the energy, the effort to work and train throughout the summer. So I wouldn’t short myself, my teammates or the fans and give my all during that season. I think that’s what it’ll come down to.”
While it remains to be seen how long Curry plays, his father says his son is “not even close” to retiring and still wants to win another championship.
“He still loves the game,” says Curry. “He’s a competitive guy. He wants to win another title, so we’re not even close to that window yet. But when the time comes, I think he’ll make the right decision.”
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DJ Siddiqi
