Stephen Curry is probably on a decline in his career

[righterwriter]

I think he is making an assumption based off his current play. The dude will be 35 next year, he can't play forever.

35 isn't the magic age when all players off. Is there any evidence that a guy who is averaging 27/5/6 is going to suddenly decline next year?

The guy made a super random prediction without any backup argument. I thought it was funny.

Yes, if you look at 27/5/6 on its face of course you would say there is no decline. But if you dig deeper you would be able to tell this has been his worse statical year when you look at things such shooting percentage.

When I say he is turning 35 I am saying he is getting older. And as you get older decline is a certainty. Father time is undefeated. There is not many guys playing basketball much less putting peak numbers at 35.

This slump that Curry is going through could just be just that a slump; however, saying it could also be a decline would not be surprising.

Saying a player is "in decline" is different from saying his stats are not quite as amazing as the season before.

If a player averages 27ppg on 42/38 (and thats after a midseason slump) while leading one of the best teams in the league, that's not an indication of them being branded"a player in decline" even if they averaged 30ppg on better percentages the year before.

What would be accurate would be to say that its normal that a certain drop off can occur as a player gets older. But again, that's different from calling someone out as being "in decline", which indicates a precipitous drop in their abilities, not going from MVP front runner to mere All-NBA team player.

[Shock Defeat]

If Harden at the beginning of the year was washed, then what does that make Curry

[MindState]

The sad part in all this is that hes no longer a point guard. Opposing teams simply no longer allow him to play that role, by trapping and doubling him the second he crosses half court, and simply no longer allowing him to handle the ball at all, hes now forced to be a psuedo shooting guard. Really sad to see.

[DroseReturnChi]

He is not declining. He is not going to reach his 2014-16 peak again but that is not declining.

watch his stats. 99% of the time career lows at this age tells me hes retiring soon. gs is already preparing post curry era but it would be sad to see him have a tragic career end similar to kobe.

[payton2kemp]

He is not declining. He is not going to reach his 2014-16 peak again but that is not declining.

watch his stats. 99% of the time career lows at this age tells me hes retiring soon. gs is already preparing post curry era but it would be sad to see him have a tragic career end similar to kobe.

lol he's not retiring any time soon. He's gona get paid 60million in 2025/2026 season.

[Rainwater]

35 isn't the magic age when all players off. Is there any evidence that a guy who is averaging 27/5/6 is going to suddenly decline next year?

The guy made a super random prediction without any backup argument. I thought it was funny.

Yes, if you look at 27/5/6 on its face of course you would say there is no decline. But if you dig deeper you would be able to tell this has been his worse statical year when you look at things such shooting percentage.

When I say he is turning 35 I am saying he is getting older. And as you get older decline is a certainty. Father time is undefeated. There is not many guys playing basketball much less putting peak numbers at 35.

This slump that Curry is going through could just be just that a slump; however, saying it could also be a decline would not be surprising.

Saying a player is "in decline" is different from saying his stats are not quite as amazing as the season before.

If a player averages 27ppg on 42/38 (and thats after a midseason slump) while leading one of the best teams in the league, that's not an indication of them being branded"a player in decline" even if they averaged 30ppg on better percentages the year before.

What would be accurate would be to say that its normal that a certain drop off can occur as a player gets older. But again, that's different from calling someone out as being "in decline", which indicates a precipitous drop in their abilities, not going from MVP front runner to mere All-NBA team player.

I feel this is just playing with words just to avoid saying "declining". Again, this might be a slump or it could be a decline their is nothing wrong with what the original poster said.

[righterwriter]

Yes, if you look at 27/5/6 on its face of course you would say there is no decline. But if you dig deeper you would be able to tell this has been his worse statical year when you look at things such shooting percentage.

When I say he is turning 35 I am saying he is getting older. And as you get older decline is a certainty. Father time is undefeated. There is not many guys playing basketball much less putting peak numbers at 35.

This slump that Curry is going through could just be just that a slump; however, saying it could also be a decline would not be surprising.

Saying a player is "in decline" is different from saying his stats are not quite as amazing as the season before.

If a player averages 27ppg on 42/38 (and thats after a midseason slump) while leading one of the best teams in the league, that's not an indication of them being branded"a player in decline" even if they averaged 30ppg on better percentages the year before.

What would be accurate would be to say that its normal that a certain drop off can occur as a player gets older. But again, that's different from calling someone out as being "in decline", which indicates a precipitous drop in their abilities, not going from MVP front runner to mere All-NBA team player.

I feel this is just playing with words just to avoid saying "declining". Again, this might be a slump or it could be a decline their is nothing wrong with what the original poster said.

Imagine a law student who got 99% on his tests and papers every year for three years of college, then starts getting 96% and 97% on his tests.

While he's still likely at the top of his class, would you find it acceptable if someone spoke of him merely as a student "in a state of decline"? It seems to miss the context of his performance overall in an attempt to categorize him negatively.

[SeniorWalker]

I sincerely hope not and this is probably premature....but possible.

I do think last year may have been the end of his peak/prime, that level he was more or less at from 2016 onwards when healthy. Doubt he'll do that again.

I still assume he will have a few years in the same ballpark, even if not as high. If not I'll be sad. Steph is the most exciting player I've watched since Jordan when he's on.

[Cavsfansince84]

The sad part in all this is that hes no longer a point guard. Opposing teams simply no longer allow him to play that role, by trapping and doubling him the second he crosses half court, and simply no longer allowing him to handle the ball at all, hes now forced to be a psuedo shooting guard. Really sad to see.

He hasn't played like a traditional pg in a long time. This isn't something new. The GS offense is designed for him to give it up early unless he launches a 25-30 footer right away.

[Cavsfansince84]

Imagine a law student who got 99% on his tests and papers every year for three years of college, then starts getting 96% and 97% on his tests.

While he's still likely at the top of his class, would you find it acceptable if someone spoke of him merely as a student "in a state of decline"? It seems to miss the context of his performance overall in an attempt to categorize him negatively.

As this pertains to Steph it really depends on how he performs next year I think at age 34. If he continues to go down from here then yes he's in decline. If he levels off or improves then this year is more just like what Kareem was like in 82-86 when he wasn't quite in his prime but still a top 5-7 player which is probably where he is at for the next 2-3 years.

[Edrees]

He'd much better defensively than he ever has been. It's possible that the defensive effort he puts puts a dent into his offense. Doesn't mean he's on decline, just means he's worse offensively but better or equal all around player.

[MindState]

The sad part in all this is that hes no longer a point guard. Opposing teams simply no longer allow him to play that role, by trapping and doubling him the second he crosses half court, and simply no longer allowing him to handle the ball at all, hes now forced to be a psuedo shooting guard. Really sad to see.

He hasn't played like a traditional pg in a long time. This isn't something new. The GS offense is designed for him to give it up early unless he launches a 25-30 footer right away.

Curry didnt play anything like he does now, back in 2015 and 2016. He is right now almost exclusively an off-ball player. Draymond is their point guard.

Curry got so great, that teams decided not to let him play the same way, forcing him into a role change where he had to learn how to play without the ball nearly the entire game. Teams just simply wont let him control the game, or handle the ball.

[Cavsfansince84]

Curry didnt play anything like he does now, back in 2015 and 2016. He is right now almost exclusively an off-ball player. Draymond is their point guard.

Curry got so great, that teams decided not to let him play the same way, forcing him into a role change where he had to learn how to play without the ball nearly the entire game. Teams just simply wont let him control the game, or handle the ball.

He gives up the ball even when he isn't being trapped quite often because the offense is designed to run that way. Obviously the offense has changed since 2016. They've always used a lot of motion and screens though.

[art_tatum]

He needs more on ball pick and rolls. Kerr's refusal is why they lost the 2016 finals after Draymond came back. He's too off ball in the playoffs where it works less.

[Rainwater]

Saying a player is "in decline" is different from saying his stats are not quite as amazing as the season before.

If a player averages 27ppg on 42/38 (and thats after a midseason slump) while leading one of the best teams in the league, that's not an indication of them being branded"a player in decline" even if they averaged 30ppg on better percentages the year before.

What would be accurate would be to say that its normal that a certain drop off can occur as a player gets older. But again, that's different from calling someone out as being "in decline", which indicates a precipitous drop in their abilities, not going from MVP front runner to mere All-NBA team player.

I feel this is just playing with words just to avoid saying "declining". Again, this might be a slump or it could be a decline their is nothing wrong with what the original poster said.

Imagine a law student who got 99% on his tests and papers every year for three years of college, then starts getting 96% and 97% on his tests.

While he's still likely at the top of his class, would you find it acceptable if someone spoke of him merely as a student "in a state of decline"? It seems to miss the context of his performance overall in an attempt to categorize him negatively.

Just because you are declining doesn't mean its negative, it just means you are declining. LBJ has been declining for years but is still one of the best players in the world.

If you feel like Curry is technically the same player fine but there are others who feel differently and its understandable. Based off his stats in the last 15, 20 games he hasn't played well, its not like people are saying this out of no where.

I personally think this is in a slump and dude is just shooting poorly but I could see why people are saying otherwise.

[SK21209]

Newsflash: 33 year old isn’t quite as good as when he was 28. LeBron isn’t as good as he was a few years ago. Harden isn’t as good as a few years ago either. Neither is Lillard. When you’re one of the 15 to 20 greatest players of all time you can decline and still be a leading MVP candidate.

[homecourtloss]

He needs more on ball pick and rolls. Kerr's refusal is why they lost the 2016 finals after Draymond came back. He's too off ball in the playoffs where it works less.

I always find it amusing when posters say something so simplistic. Do you think that the Warriors haven’t thought about this? He’s easiest to guard as an on ball player as they will trap him with bigger players and take the ball out of his hands. That’s not as easy to do with a 6’8/6’9 LeBron or 6’10 Durant since they can see over the top. The Warriors know what they’re doing. Curry is just missing shots he normally makes (at the rim, in the paint, on threes, in midrange, all of it). He’ll have another hot streak here soon enough.

[art_tatum]

He needs more on ball pick and rolls. Kerr's refusal is why they lost the 2016 finals after Draymond came back. He's too off ball in the playoffs where it works less.

I always find it amusing when posters say something so simplistic. Do you think that the Warriors haven’t thought about this? He’s easiest to guard as an on ball player as they will trap him with bigger players and take the ball out of his hands. That’s not as easy to do with a 6’8/6’9 LeBron or 6’10 Durant since they can see over the top. The Warriors know what they’re doing. Curry is just missing shots he normally makes (at the rim, in the paint, on threes, in midrange, all of it). He’ll have another hot streak here soon enough.

Not when it's against the very philosophy of Kerr's offense. They barely did Klay and curry pick and rolls. Which would've freed up 1.
Imo warriors would've won with dantoni as coach. Kerr and curry got figured by lue and his staff. Just grab off ball and switch. Hence freedom of movement rule.

[righterwriter]

I feel this is just playing with words just to avoid saying "declining". Again, this might be a slump or it could be a decline their is nothing wrong with what the original poster said.

Imagine a law student who got 99% on his tests and papers every year for three years of college, then starts getting 96% and 97% on his tests.

While he's still likely at the top of his class, would you find it acceptable if someone spoke of him merely as a student "in a state of decline"? It seems to miss the context of his performance overall in an attempt to categorize him negatively.

Just because you are declining doesn't mean its negative, it just means you are declining. LBJ has been declining for years but is still one of the best players in the world.

If you feel like Curry is technically the same player fine but there are others who feel differently and its understandable. Based off his stats in the last 15, 20 games he hasn't played well, its not like people are saying this out of no where.

I personally think this is in a slump and dude is just shooting poorly but I could see why people are saying otherwise.

A patient meets with his doctor for an annual physical. The doctor does the tests and meets with the patient to give him an analysis.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but it appears your health is in decline."

The patient is shocked and scrambles to make sense of what the doctor is telling him.

"Wait, doctor, what do you mean? I exercise every day, I watch every meal that I eat, I run half-marathons where I place in the top of my age category. I don't get it."

"Yes, but you are a year older. So really, your health is not as good as last year when your body was really at peak optimum level. The numbers show a tiny decrease from super elite to just really, really elite. But yes, I will repeat: your health is in decline."

"Jeez, why do you say it like that?"

"Because technically it's true."


You can see how language matters, right?

[Commodor]

1. What player is ascending at 33? Not even Lebron was on the upswing at that age. Of course he’s probably going to get worse at this point in his career but he’s still got plenty left in the tank.

2. Teams have figured out that Curry is still the engine of the offense and have thrown the kitchen sink at him. Couple that with Wiggins/Poole getting Covid followed by green getting hurt and it’s easy to see why Curry has had some issues lately.

3. He’s in a slump. No ifs ands or buts about it. He’s missing easy or open shots. But that is is fixable. His shot didn’t just evaporate into air. He’ll figure it out.

He may not get another unanimous MVP but I doubt there’s many warrior fans too concerned with him at this point. Dubs are still atop the west with PHX with a team of min contracts, raw rookies and Wiggins & Poole. Let’s see where the team is once Draymond comes back and Klay starts to fit in with the players he’s never shared the court with before.