“Don’t want to be limping…” Stephen Curry gets real about retirement as face of NBA’s most-valued franchise

Amidst retirement speculations, Stephen Curry clears the air on his future plans and his desire to remain with the Warriors' organization.

“Don’t want to be limping…” Stephen Curry gets real about retirement as face of NBA’s most-valued franchise

Stephen Curry opens about his future plans to Emily Chang

With every passing second, the top basketball players of the last decade are getting closer to retirement. The average retirement age for NBA players generally falls between 33 and 34. LeBron James is about to turn 40 this month while Stephen Curry is already 36 years old. Certain players have surpassed the 33-year benchmark. However, how long the superstars play remain an important question.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg’s Emily Chang, ‘Chef Curry’ touched on many topics. It ranged from his business ventures to the possibility of retirement in the near future. Curry opened up about what it’s like to be in his 16th year in the league. He also opened up about the significance of playing for 16 consecutive years in the NBA, just like his father, Dell Curry.

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Emily Chang posed a question to Stephen Curry regarding his retirement and how long would he like to stay in the game. To this, Curry candidly responded by explaining that there are essentially only two ways to leave the NBA. These are to go out on one’s terms or get forced out.

I hope to be in a situation where you consider how your body feels, what it takes to get ready for games, and the off-season training that goes into preparing yourself for an 82-game season. There will be a clear sign that it’s time to hang it up. I don’t want to be the one that’s limping up and down the court trying to keep up with the young bucks, but I don’t think I’m anywhere close to that yet.

Stephen Curry via Bloomberg

In the 2024-25 regular season, Curry has participated in 20 games so far out of the 25 played. The five games he missed were primarily due to injuries, specifically involving his sprained left ankle and bilateral knee issues.

Despite these setbacks, Stephen Curry has maintained a robust performance on the court, which has turned the Warriors into a formidable opponent in the Western Conference. However, after losing their NBA Cup matchup, the team has backslid. They have only won two of their last ten games.

Stephen Curry’s desire to retire as a Warrior

Stephen Curry isn’t just a baby-faced assassin—he is also the face of the NBA’s most-valued franchise. Curry has reiterated numerous times about his desire to remain with the Golden State Warriors franchise, a dynasty he helped build from the ground up. From his rookie days in 2009 to becoming a four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP, Curry’s legacy is inseparable from the Warriors’ rise to prominence.

When asked about his retirement plans, Curry often emphasizes the importance of finishing his career on his own terms. As such, he wanted to do so in a Warriors jersey.

I always said it’s a goal of mine to finish my career with that organization that has seen me go through the ranks and accomplish amazing things.

Stephen Curry said on TODAY show

Curry has a very old-school mindset about staying with the same organization for his entire career—like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. However, his desire to retire as a Warrior isn’t just about loyalty. For Curry, it’s about honoring the legacy he’s built and leaving the game on a high note.


Even in his 16th year, Curry is still averaging nearly 23 points a game, dishing out 6.7 dimes, and grabbing 5.2 rebounds. Safe to say, he isn’t going anywhere before 2027, especially after the Warriors’ recent acquisition of Dennis Schroder.