Steve Kerr: Steph Curry is ‘at his peak physically, mentally’
One decade into his NBA career, Steph Curry has already accomplished more than most during his time with the Golden State Warriors.
The three-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP has been a cornerstone of the Warriors’ dynasty in recent years, leading them to five consecutive NBA Finals. He’s averaged 26.5 points and 6.5 assists during that timespan, too, while shooting an impressive 43 percent from behind the arc.
Despite his immense success, Curry is undoubtedly entering the final stretch of his NBA career. He’s in his 30s now, a time when most players start to slow down.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, though, hasn’t seen his 31-year-old star slow down one bit. In his mind, Curry is at his “peak.”
“It’s the perfect time physically and mentally where everything’s come together,” Kerr said, via ESPN. “He’s in his prime age-wise, strength and conditioning-wise and defensively he’s seen everything that’s come his way. Teams have played him every possible way that you could think of, and he’s had years now to work on counters.
“So he’s kind of in his sweet spot right now, and he has been the last couple years. And hopefully that continues for the next few years.”
Curry playing different, more aware with his new surroundings
For the first time in a long time, the Warriors look extremely different this season.
Kevin Durant, Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala are all gone, and Klay Thompson is currently recovering from an ACL injury he suffered last postseason. Curry is now the oldest player on Golden State’s roster, and will undoubtedly have to step up as an even bigger leader in its young locker room.
While Kerr has repeatedly insisted he doesn’t need to see anything new from Curry this season, he has noticed a change.
“He’s never going to be Draymond. He’s never going to be up, barking away,” Kerr said, via ESPN. “But he’s more inclined to say something now than he would have been when I first got here, for sure.
“And I think with this team especially — Steph’s smart, and he realizes what we’ve lost in the last couple of years from a veteran leadership standpoint. So he understands he’s got more responsibility in that regard now.”
Kerr isn’t alone with his observation, either.
“He’s different. I don’t know what he’s got, he’s different,” new Warriors guard Alec Burks said, via ESPN. “Just playing against him seven, eight years and then actually being around him every day, playing pick-up with him, scrimmaging with him. He’s in a different type of mood right now. He’s locked in. It’s great to be a part of, not against.”
Curry, though, is simply focused on the upcoming season and maneuvering the Warriors’ latest roster changes.
He doesn’t see himself as having to enter into a new leadership role. Instead, he said, he just needs to be more aware of his surroundings.
“I don’t have to change who I am as a leader,” Curry said, via ESPN. “I think it’s more so just about awareness and understanding what this team needs specifically in the details to help us be successful. … But I’ve always been a leader by example. Be vocal when necessary and that’s just who I am, that’s how I continue to lead, but it’s all about just having an awareness of how this team is different than teams of past and embracing that.”
More from Yahoo Sports:
