Stephen Curry has come a long way from his days as a baby-faced marksman who put the Davidson Wildcats on his back and carried them on a Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament. Now 37 and playing in his 17th NBA season, the 6’2″ guard is considered an elder statesman in the league, revered for his still elite skills and wisdom gained from all his years of battling in the trenches.
But what keeps Curry going, even after all these years? According to the man himself, it’s simply the love of the game and a passion for competition. He admitted that the hunt for a fifth NBA championship still tantalizes him, but more than that, he still loves the grind of getting better every day.
Advertisement
His happy place
The life of an NBA superstar has many nuances. From the ginormous salaries they earn to their responsibilities on and off the court to their celebrity status, it’s not an easy life, to say the least. Fortunately for the Golden State Warriors megastar, he has never lost sight of what matters most in this field: his love for the game.
“I’ve had just gratitude and appreciation for the journey, but I still love to play basketball. Like, just at its core, I still love the work that goes into it,” Steph said. “It’s my happy place when I’m out there on the court.”
Advertisement
With four NBA rings, two MVP trophies, an NBA Finals MVP award and countless entries in the NBA record books, some might say that Curry has nothing left to prove or to play for. However, Curry asserted that he still enjoys the grind, the camaraderie he shares with his teammates and the constant challenge to improve himself.
“So that belief and that joy that I try to play with, I think, is contagious for our team. I’m still motivated to keep chasing that elusive fifth championship and that opportunity,” he added. “The challenge is to stay in the moment, enjoy playing basketball, enjoy the fight of competing night in, night out.”
Another challenge to overcome
The Warriors are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference — not a spot they’re used to being in. And with Jimmy Butler out for the season and Curry set to miss at least five more games after missing the team’s last five, the Warriors will have to find ways to win without their star players.
Advertisement
Curry was sidelined before the All-Star break due to a right knee injury. However, the time off apparently hasn’t been enough for him to recover, as he is still dealing with patellofemoral pain syndrome, more popularly known as “Runner’s Knee.”
The news isn’t the best for Golden State as they seek to move up in the standings and avoid the play-in tournament. Curry’s absence in their next five matches means he’ll miss games against the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers. The odds aren’t in the Dubs’ favor as they have gone a dismal 6-10 when Curry isn’t playing.
Advertisement
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.