Stephen Curry knows the end of his career is approaching, but he isn’t ready to say goodbye just yet. The Golden State Warriors star recently spoke with Tim Kawakami of San Francisco Standard about his future and how he envisions the final years of his NBA journey.
“You think about that more and more,” Curry said. “I’m not at the farewell yet. That’s just part of time.” The 16-year veteran acknowledged the reality of aging in the league but emphasized his desire to remain competitive until the very end.
Curry turns 37 next month and remains the face of the Warriors, averaging 23.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 32.2 minutes per game this season. Despite his longevity, he wants to avoid the type of late-career struggles some legends have faced.
“Everybody talks about Kobe [Bryant] and his last years,” Curry said. “You don’t want to be in a situation the Lakers were in those last three years [with Bryant].” He referenced Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, and Bryant as examples of stars who spent their entire careers with one franchise, hinting that he hopes to follow a similar path.
Golden State is currently 28-27, holding the 10th seed in the Western Conference and tied with the Sacramento Kings for ninth. They are 3.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers and 1.5 games ahead of the Phoenix Suns, who sit 11th.
Curry made it clear that his goal is to remain competitive rather than simply rack up individual accolades late in his career. “My whole thing is, you have to be realistic,” he said. “There’s probably not a move or a scenario where you’re gonna walk into a season or a playoff series as the perennial favorite.”
The Warriors’ dynasty has already undergone major changes, with core pieces like Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green facing different career trajectories.
Curry understands that winning championships won’t be easy, but he wants to remain in the hunt. “To be competitive, where you have a chance — that’s what we want to see. I’m sure that’s what our fans want to see,” he said. “Playing meaningful games, no matter how it ends.”
With the Warriors still in Play-In contention, Curry is determined to extend their season and keep Golden State in the postseason picture. The team has won six of its last seven games, and the addition of Jimmy Butler before the trade deadline has given them new life.
While retirement looms in the distance, Curry isn’t shying away from reality. “You need a little bit of fear of what’s coming, what an end might look like, to inform decisions that you’re making now and appreciate what’s going on right now,” he said.
The four-time champion has nothing left to prove, but he isn’t ready to fade away quietly. His focus remains on competing at the highest level for as long as possible, ensuring his final years are spent chasing meaningful basketball, not just milestones.
