Stephen Curry is still playing at an elite level heading into his 17th NBA season, but even he’s beginning to think about how, and when, his legendary career might end. In a recent appearance on the ‘360 With Speedy’ show, the four-time champion spoke candidly about retirement, longevity, and what it really takes to stay motivated at this stage of his journey. While Curry emphasized that he’s “nowhere close” to walking away, he admitted he’s started to take things in two-year increments to stay focused and grounded.
“I’m kind of taking it in two-year chunks,” said Curry in a chat with Speedy Morman. “Just to know, you have to give yourself something and some motivation to kind of go after it. I talked to all the guys who got into this situation where they’ve extended their prime, and there are more ungraceful endings than there are ‘I tip the cap’ type of thing.”
Curry, 37, has already accomplished more in his career than most players can dream of. As a 4x champion, 2x MVP, 2x scoring leader, and 11x All-Star, the Warriors legend has nothing left to prove in the NBA. As he approaches his inevitable retirement, the true test of his stamina will be how he endures the offseason.
“The offseason, for me, is the hardest because once you get into the 82 games, it’s repetition, you know what you need to do in practice in the off days,” Curry said. “You love playing, and the games are most fun… like, you get lost in the game, that’s the easy part. So if I can get through the offseasons, I feel like that’s a good marker for how long I can push it.”
Curry’s love and passion for the game have never been in doubt. Since he entered the league in 2009, the NBA sharpshooter has played with a relentless drive to not only succeed with the Warriors but also get the absolute most out of whatever time he has left in the NBA.
“I just want to be in a position where I can say I’ve done everything I can to get everything out of this game,” said Curry. “Hopefully, I have my health and the choice to say ‘I’m hanging it up and I’m good.’ But I’m nowhere close to that, though.”
Even after 16 years and plenty of bumps along the way, the Warriors remain committed to building a contender around Curry. With averages of 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game last season, he proved he can still deliver at a high level, and now it’s up to GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. to fill out the roster with enough firepower.
While the Warriors have not made any notable moves this summer, they still have Steph, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler ready to help lead their team to prosperity in the West. In the 2024-25 campaign, they finished 7th in the West (48-34), but the jury is still out on where they’ll fit in next season.
For Curry, the finish line isn’t in sight just yet, but he’s pacing himself. By breaking his journey into manageable chapters, he’s staying motivated, focused, and realistic about the path ahead. As long as his body holds up and the passion stays lit, Steph will keep chasing moments, not just milestones. And whenever that final buzzer does sound, it won’t catch him off guard—it’ll be on his terms.
