37 years old! Averaged 24 per game! How did the Warriors fail in both lanes?

Have you ever thought about what the story of the Golden State Warriors would be like in another parallel world?

Boldly imagine that in that world, the young Warriors are reaching the top step by step, and Kuming has become a core scorer averaging 25 points per game; Jordan Poole has been selected as an All-Star; Podemski has repeatedly played triple-doubles; Moses Moody has grown into an all-around 3D with both offense and defense;

As for head coach Cole, he has transformed into an elderly version of Popovich, gradually finding opportunities for the Warriors in the replacement of generations, and one day winning the championship again.

It sounds like a joke, but in imagination, the Warriors' "dual timeline strategy" did have a chance to succeed; it's just that in the real universe, none of this ultimately came true, and there seems to be only one key reason for this, which comes from Stephen Curry.

According to the imaginary script, at the age of 37, Curry should have started his retirement tour and gradually moved towards the sunset. Although he is still a member of the Warriors, his on-field value has begun to fade, and he has gradually become the leader of the team's locker room, handing over the Warriors banner to the young people behind him.

Referring to the historical trajectory of the NBA, most guards begin to decline after the age of 30. Coupled with Curry's early ankle injuries and the high load caused by running without the ball in each game, from this perspective, if Curry is no longer the core of the championship by the 17th season of his career, most fans should not have objections.

But the reality is that in 2025, every step of the Warriors' operations will still be tailored for Curry.

In the 2024-25 season, Curry averaged 24.5 points, 6 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 39.7%, ranking ninth on the MVP list.

This is also why the Warriors traded Wiggins for Butler; why Green got a four-year contract; why they signed the 39-year-old Horford in the offseason; and why they fought for every inch of Kuminga's contract extension, even though he may be the cornerstone of the future in other teams. In the end, they signed a contract with a team option for the 2026-27 season, which is obviously to reserve chips for future transactions.

Borrowing the speech of team newcomer TJD at the media day:

"In the end, the Warriors are still Curry's team. As long as we can help him win, we will do it. Coach Kerr always aims to win and win the championship, and he always thinks about how to help Curry, because we all know , when Curry shows off his power, the team has a very high probability of winning. "

In the 31 games after Butler was traded last season, as long as Curry was on the court, the team scored 122 points per 100 possessions, ranking first in the league during that period; when he was not on the court, this number plummeted to 109.

Thanks to his off-the-ball movement, excellent ball intelligence and top-level shooting threat, Curry can still make the entire team better. This is also a portrayal of his entire career. What’s even more incredible is that in the 2024-25 season, Curry’s points per game and three-point field goals even exceeded the 2014-15 season when he first won the MVP.

Curry has also become the only guard in NBA history who is 36 years old and can average more than 24 points per game.

Being able to maintain top performance depends on a high degree of self-discipline in game training and body management. Just like James, he continues to find innovative ways to extend his career while making his younger teammates willing to sacrifice.

To borrow the words of Warriors forward Santos:

"You see people like Curry training. He is 37 years old, right? He trains more than those 20-year-olds, and his physical condition is super good. Seeing him like this makes you want to train harder. I hope I can maintain this state when I reach that age. Although it is almost impossible."

Behind the high degree of self-discipline, what is even more amazing is that Curry has played for the same team for 17 seasons, and he has always been the face of the team. Super stars of the same period, such as Harden, Westbrook, Butler, Durant and others, all moved to other teams, and Curry accompanied the Warriors through the peak of four championships and also through the low ebb.

Besides the game, players’ personality traits are the most underestimated aspect of their careers. As for Curry, his personality happens to be one of his major advantages.

Borrowing from Hield's interview:

"Curry is that kind of person. You can learn a lot from how he talks and behaves. You have to absorb everything about him like a sponge, because he does everything right. He is probably one of the best people I have ever met, not only Players, but the overall life level."

In almost all interviews with teammates, they gave similar answers. This is why Butler, Horford, and even Durant at their peak were willing to put aside their status just to be on the same team with Curry. His teammates want to win for Curry, and he also wants to win for his teammates. This is leadership quality.

After trading for Butler last season, the Warriors posted an outstanding record of 23 wins and 8 losses, ranking first in the league in defensive efficiency and third in the league in net rating. They counterattacked and eliminated the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, but lost to the Timberwolves in the semifinals. Curry only played 13 minutes due to a strained hamstring in the first game. In the end, the Warriors failed to advance.

Judging from this trajectory, it seems that everyone has been reminded once again that even if his career has come to an end, the Warriors' upper limit is still closely related to Curry's status. This is the true superstar, not just statistics and honors, but also the sustained influence of the team and personality.

Even near the end of his career, he is still the shining core in the Warriors, lighting up the entire team and the entire basketball world.

Mini-game recommendations:Blob Opera