Stephen Curry retirement: When is the Golden State Warriors star planning to retire?
Stephen Curry just turned 35. The Golden State Warriors superstar was born on March 14, 1988 and is celebrating another successful year of his life.
Despite all the injury problems Curry has had in the 2022-23 season, he's still one of the best scorers in the league. With 29.6 points per game, the Warriors guard ranks seventh in scoring average.
The 4-time NBA champion has shown no signs of slowing down. However, this did not stop many basketball fans from wondering when we would see Stephen Curry's retirement.
When will Stephen Curry retire?
Father Time is undefeated. Many NBA legends have fallen to it and were forced to retire due to their age. However, there are a few notable exceptions. Several players performed at a high level after turning 35, including LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
Curry definitely belongs to the same company as he's an all-time great player. While he is not done yet, one has to wonder how long the 2-time MVP can keep performing well.
Let's first take a look at some facts. Curry's contract runs through the 2025-26 season, meaning that he will be 38 in its final year. The Warriors star will most likely play through the remainder of his contract, whether he's performing at a high level or not.
You may be interested in reading: Top 3 Steph Curry stat figures that show how he revolutionized modern NBA
Secondly, it's important to see how much the sharpshooter has played in the last few years. Excluding the 2022-23 season, Stephen Curry has appeared in 132 out of 236 games since 2019. This comes down to only 55.9% of total games.
In the current season, the 6-foot-2 guard has appeared in 43 games, missing 26 of them. Stephen Curry has played exceptional basketball over the last few years, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy, which might be concerning.
The good news, however, is that Curry's playstyle should allow him to play longer. The Warriors superstar has taken 57.5% of his shots from 3-point range this season. While he's a fantastic finisher, less than a quarter of his shot attempts come from layups.
Curry doesn't attack the rim frequently, which should certainly increase his longevity. However, he's the deadliest 3-point shooter in NBA history, which is why opposing teams play tougher defense against him.
Comparing Curry to retired NBA players
It is extremely hard to find a player in the league's history who can be compared to Stephen Curry. The Golden State Warriors superstar is so unique that he single-handedly revolutionized basketball.
However, we could compare Curry to Ray Allen, an exceptional scorer who retired at the age of 38. Unlike Curry, Ray was mostly used off the bench during the final years of his career.
Vince Carter is another great player who spent a lot of time in the NBA. Vinsanity holds the record for the most seasons in the league with 22 as he retired when he was 43.
Carter was exceptional at attacking the rim and his high-flying skills allowed him to throw down numerous dunks. However, he relied on his 3-point shooting in the later stages of his career, which allowed him to stay in the league for a long time.
In general, skilled 3-point shooters have longer careers due to their versatility. Steve Nash, who was 40 in his final season in the league, is another great example.
Dwyane Wade had a successful NBA career, winning three championship rings with the Miami Heat. However, Wade mostly relied on his slashing skills to beat opponents, which is why he retired at the age of 37.
D-Wade dealt with numerous injury problems throughout his career due to his playstyle and was unable to play at a high level due to them.
This is very similar to Derrick Rose, another incredible finisher. Rose is still in the league, but his role has drastically decreased due to his injuries. The former MVP is a year younger than Stephen Curry, yet is no longer a star.
Barring any serious injuries, Stephen Curry will likely retire at the age of 40. Back in December 2022, he said that he didn't see himself slowing down anytime soon, which is great news for his fans.
You may be interested in reading: How Steph Curry's contract of 4 years, $44 million paved the way for Golden State Warriors dynasty
After his current contract expires, Curry could stay with the Golden State Warriors for at least another year. It is very unlikely that he will slow down in the next two to three years, which is why we expect him to be a star until the end of his contract.