Stephen Curry has never been just another NBA superstar. He’s the man who reshaped basketball, stretching the floor in ways no one thought possible and inspiring a generation of kids to pull up from 30 feet without hesitation. But even with his own massive impact on the sport, Curry is quick to give credit to the broader evolution of the game.
On the Today Show, Curry reflected on where the league stands in 2025 as he enters his 17th season. His verdict was simple but bold: this is the most skilled era in basketball history.
"I was told by a wise man, when I was getting into the league, that you want to leave the league in a better place than when you found it."
"And I think just the way that you see the skill level right now, the way that the range has kind of taken over and guys shoot threes all over the court, but just from one to five and all the way down the roster, I think this is the most skilled era of basketball history."
"And so whether that was young kids in the game now seeing my generation, the way that I play, and getting inspired by that for me is important and something I don’t take for granted."
"And then also being able to extend your prime, like I’m going into year 17 and really have this belief that I can be at the top of my game again and win at the highest level. I’m just trying to squeeze the most out of it."
It’s hard to argue with him. The NBA has never seen this level of versatility, where nearly every player on the court is expected to dribble, shoot, pass, and defend multiple positions. Big men like Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama handle the ball like guards. Wings like Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo initiate offenses. Even role players are expected to knock down threes at a steady clip.
Curry himself, of course, set the blueprint. His deep shooting range not only changed how defenses are structured but also created space for creativity and playmaking across the floor. It’s no coincidence that after his rise, teams began building entire offenses around spacing and shooting, with young players emulating his fearlessness from distance.
But Curry’s comments weren’t just about the current crop of stars. He also highlighted how today’s era is the result of a ripple effect that started with his generation.
Beyond skill, Curry pointed to longevity as another defining trait of the modern NBA. Advances in training, recovery, and nutrition have allowed stars to maintain their primes far longer than in previous decades. Curry himself is living proof: heading into Year 17, he still believes he can “be at the top of my game again and win at the highest level.”
The numbers back up his confidence. Last season, Curry averaged 24.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 40.6% from three. He remained among the league’s most efficient scorers despite defenses throwing everything at him.
His assessment of this era as the most skilled will spark debate, especially among fans of past generations who point to legends like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, or Michael Jordan. But Curry’s perspective carries weight. After all, he’s both a product of the game’s evolution and one of its greatest architects.
If his words ring true, then the modern NBA is not only defined by skill but by a sense of continuity, each generation building on the last. And Curry, entering his 17th season, is still right at the center of it.
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