LeBron James is going strong at 40, and Stephen Curry is dominating at 36, but how exactly? These stars still dropping similar numbers that they did in their 20s is nothing less than a wonder. Former Golden State Warriors star Gilbert Arenas, however, has a theory of his own behind the kind of longevity that is still allowing Curry to do what he does. His latest marvel? 56 points against Orlando Magic.
“The difference between the other generations is… These guys [LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and more] are holding their greatness a lot longer. I mean, obviously, because of medicine…,” Gil said. However, he does not deny that these players are maintaining a healthier lifestyle than previous generations. But then Gil re-emphasized the role that revitalizing medicines have played in helping aging active superstars in the league.
The fact that Curry had to undergo a drug test along with KD and Edwards after the Olympic win tells you the kind of disbelief that exists in his performance at this age. The players tested negative. Obviously! Arenas, however, does not deny using drugs. The only difference is that he is referring to pharmaceutical drugs.
To further prove his point, the former Warriors star raised an important question: What were players like Reggie Miller and Larry Bird doing at 37? Well, Bird had retired. And although Miller was still in the league at 37, he wasn’t what he used to be in his 20s or early 30s. Does that diminish the kind of legacy these legends left? Well, not exactly. Arenas’ co-host on his podcast, Kenyon Martin, had a strong argument in defense of these legends.
“He [Curry] playing against a bunch of dummies too much… Not high IQ basketball players as well. And they use him. Bron, KD. They use it to their advantage, like they should… Chris Paul… I’m gonna take advantage of you. Cause I’m smarter than you. I’ve been doing this longer. And he uses their naiveness,” Martin said.
Feb 3, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) holds onto the ball between plays against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
However, Martin in no way meant to diminish Stephen Curry’s proficiency that he has displayed in all these years. He believes Curry would still have been the Baby-Faced Assassin he’s known to be at present. “I ain’t saying he wouldn’t have from 2000… He would have got that shit off. Because what he does, he does it at a high rate, and he’s great at it and put himself in a position to be successful,” Martin said on Gild’s Arena.
Having said that, it’s best to hear from the man himself about his longevity.
Stephen Curry reveals what keeps him going strong even in his late 30s
If you’re wondering how he manages to stay at the top of his game after 15 seasons, he’s got the answer. It’s not just his talent or relentless work ethic—it’s also about taking care of his body the right way.
During his appearance on Hot Ones, Curry opened up about the push-and-pull dynamic with Rick Celebrini, the Warriors’ director of sports medicine and performance. As someone who always wants to get back on the court as soon as possible, Curry admitted that Celebrini sometimes has to rein him in.
“We’ve had a couple run-ins at times because I wanna be a lot more aggressive—like when I tore a labrum in my shoulder, ankle sprains and all that—I’m thinking about the shortest timeline for me to get back on the court,” he said. “He’s more realistic and more player-friendly… let’s make sure we’re talking about longevity and not just the here and now. That’s why you see guys playing a lot longer.”
He also tackled the ongoing load management debate, pushing back against the idea that players just don’t want to play 82 games. “That’s not it,” Curry said, explaining how experts help athletes extend their careers. His borderline-obsessive preparation isn’t just about skill—it’s about lasting greatness.
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