Warriors Star Steph Curry Reflects on Retirement Plans

Curry believes his NBA retirement will "declare itself" when the time is right.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry, 37, says he's not putting too much pressure on deciding when to retire from the NBA. Curry, who is in his 17th season, believes his retirement will "declare itself" when the time is right, though he doesn't see that happening anytime soon. The legendary point guard is focused on the present and continuing to redefine greatness at his age, rather than thinking about the end of his storied career.

Why it matters

As one of the NBA's all-time greats, Curry's perspective on retirement provides insight into how elite athletes approach the twilight of their careers. His thoughtful approach highlights the mental challenges of knowing when to step away, especially for players who have achieved so much success.

The details

Curry, who has won two MVP awards and four championships with the Warriors, says he's not putting pressure on himself to decide when to retire. Instead, he's focused on enjoying the journey of competing and the work that goes into it. Despite dealing with a recent knee injury that sidelined him from the NBA All-Star Game, Curry views every step, positive or negative, as a blessing and a sign that he's still able to take the court at an age when many players have already retired.

  • Curry is currently in his 17th NBA season.
  • Curry, 37, was recently named the oldest point guard in NBA history to be selected as an All-Star Game starter this season.

The players

Steph Curry

A 37-year-old point guard who has spent his entire 17-year NBA career with the Golden State Warriors. He is a 4-time NBA champion, 2-time MVP, and 12-time All-Star.

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What they’re saying

“It'll declare itself, whenever the time comes to call it quits, which I don't think is anytime soon. I'm not really putting too much pressure on that.”

— Steph Curry (PEOPLE)

“Thinking about the end robs you of the now. I'm enjoying the journey of competing and all the work that goes into it. Hopefully that carries me a long way.”

— Steph Curry (PEOPLE)

“Every time you do something cool, it's like, 'Oh, you're the oldest to do such and such' or 'You're the oldest point guard to fill in the blank.' So I wear all of those things like a badge of honor, because I know how much work goes into it— to play this game that I love.”

— Steph Curry (PEOPLE)

The takeaway

Steph Curry's thoughtful approach to retirement highlights the mental challenges elite athletes face in knowing when to step away, even after achieving immense success. His focus on enjoying the present journey rather than worrying about the end serves as an inspiring example for athletes and fans alike.