Stephen Curry is all set to enter Year 17 with the Golden State Warriors.
Following an underwhelming 2024-25 NBA season, the Golden State Warriors will hope to bounce back in the upcoming campaign.
To do so, the organization needs Stephen Curry to be at his sparkling best. Even as a 37-year-old, Curry will remain the primary target of opponents on the court.
The most common tactic seen to slow down Curry is to play physical defense against him. The Baby-Faced Assassin has found a counter to the strategy that only LeBron James possesses.
Brandon Payne says only Stephen Curry and LeBron James possess ‘toughness’ to last 82-game seasons
Both Curry and James are in the twilight years of their NBA careers. However, even at this stage of their careers, the long-time rivals continue to impress in the offseason.
Speaking of which, Curry’s trainer, Brandon Payne, spoke to Mark Medina of RG.org about the Warriors star gaining more strength ahead of the new season.
“There’s a toughness that you have to have, certainly. He possesses that. When it comes to understanding the rigors and ins and outs of the 82-game season.
“I don’t know outside of LeBron James if there are any that knows better than Steph,” Payne said.
There’s a reason why Curry is still considered the best American player in the NBA. It’s obviously his ability to come out on top, albeit getting consistently hammered on the hardwood.
Similarly, even at 40 years old, James loves to bulldoze through opponents in the paint to score at will for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Why Steph Curry and LeBron James have more toughness than other NBA stars
Despite being among the oldest players in the league, what gives Curry and James an edge over the physical defense played against them?
Well, Payne believes it’s because the duo is constantly having to deal with a target on their backs.
“I think Steph and LeBron probably have an understanding that is on a level a little bit different than everybody else because they constantly have been the target, not only game-to-game, but for the entire league for a long time,” Payne continued.
“So they understand how to navigate that a lot better than I do. It’s our job to provide him with the stimulus in the offseason to be prepared for the 82 games and the playoffs,” Payne concluded.
Now, that’s a solid assessment of Curry and James’ games. Another thing that gives them an edge is how well they adjust their game, with respect to their age.
Curry openly stated he won’t try to dunk for the remainder of his NBA career because of how painful the experience was last season. It shows that the 4x NBA champion is ready to take a step back to extend his career.
