The Golden State Warriors were impressive in the 2021 NBA preseason. They played five games and destroyed the competition, finishing with an undefeated record. Someone else who's been undefeated for years is father time. Although he will eventually defeat the two-time MVP winner Stephen Curry, it hasn't happened yet. The fight doesn't even seem like it's begun because Curry looks like he's still getting better.
You would think that would be impossible since Curry has had so many big seasons in the past. But it can very well be the truth, especially when you look at things in totality. Stephen Curry entered his prime somewhere around 24 years old. Since then, he's won 2 MVP trophies, 3 NBA championships and broke a plethora of three-point records. Curry might have reached those milestones before even reaching his full potential.
I know there is the video game-like year he had in the 2015-16 season. That year he averaged 30.1 points while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 45.4 percent from deep. Stephen Curry set the NBA record for most threes made in a season with 402 and led the NBA in steals per game with 2.1.
Most might say that was the best version of Curry we've ever seen. But after the year he had last season, it's very much debatable. There were two massive differences between Stephen Curry then and now.
In the 2015-16 season, the Dubs were a championship team compared to last year's squad, just trying to claw their way into the playoffs. If last year's Dubs were a top seed going into the postseason, Curry would have his third MVP award. He might even have his second unanimous MVP. Stephen Curry also made more threes per game 5.3 than in his record-breaking season. In that year, he made 5.1 per game.
The other difference is Curry physically. Now Curry is a lot bigger and stronger. Although he led the NBA in steals before last season. Curry is a much better defender now. In the past, teams would regularly pick on Stephen Curry in the pick and roll. Now it's not that easy to do because of the work he put in the gym over the years. The current version of the two-time MVP won't win a defensive award, but he's improved tremendously on that side of the court.
Last year Curry set a new career-high in points. He averaged 32.0 per game in dominating fashion. Now Stephen Curry might be shooting the ball better than ever and playing defense at a higher level. It indicates the three-point king is still getting better with age.
The latest version of Stephen Curry will play in his first game of the 2021-22 season. So soon, we will see if he's still winning the race against father time and improving as a player.
The Warriors will kick the season off Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers inside the Staples Center. In a year, they hope to return to NBA dominance.
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