Steph Curry refused to bow down to father time: “I’m stubborn enough to think I can do this for a lot more years”
Stephen Curry has re-affirmed his belief that he will be able to play at an elite level for a few more years. Curry won the NBA championship and NBA Finals MVP last season, when he led the Golden State Warriors to their fourth championship in eight years.
With advancements in science, nutrition, fitness and diet, athletes around the globe have been pushing the definition of prime years. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, LeBron James and Tom Brady have been playing at an all-time level even after they reached their mid-30s.
Curry may hope to follow in their footsteps as he looks to remain one of the top five NBA players even in his late 30s.
Curry will be 35 years old by the time the playoffs start in May. Only a handful of superstars in the league's history have had success at that age. But Curry is hopeful that he will continue to be at his best for years to come.
"I’m stubborn enough to think that I can do this for a lot more years," Curry said.
Steph Curry on staying in his prime:
"I’m stubborn enough to think that I can do this for a lot more years."
Steph Curry's game will allow him to play well in his advancing years
Steph Curry's game, unlike a lot of his peers, is not based on his athletic ability. Curry is inarguably the best shooter in NBA history, and his shooting ability will help him remain on top of the game as long as he wishes to.
The Golden State Warriors will need to build a quality roster around Curry in order to enable their legendary superstar to manage his load as he ages. With a lesser load to carry in the regular season, Curry can rest his legs for the playoffs.
Another important aspect of Curry's success is his ability to run around the court and through screens to get open. With age, his conditioning will determine how long he can sustain that level of energy to keep doing that.
Very few NBA superstars in history have been able to play well in their advancing years
The NBA has always been a young man's league, with prime years for a superstar usually in the range of 27 to 31. However, certain superstars have tried to push that envelope.
A prime example of this is Curry's longtime rival, LeBron James. James is going strong in his age 37 season for the LA Lakers. Even though his team didn't qualify for the playoffs last season, James was one of the league's best players, averaging 30.3 points per game. However, the superstar has reduced his attacks on the rim through the years while focusing more on perimeter shooting.
Superstars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal hobbled to the finish line. Others retired due to recurring injuries. And some kept playing until they were no longer bona fide superstars. It will be interesting to see how Curry's career spans out in the coming years.