Michael Jordan once said, “Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work.” However, to stand out amongst the crowd and establish your dominance and presence can only be achieved by going the extra mile. Stephen Curry realized early on, and follows the principle of consistency even today, no matter how tedious it can get.

In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, the 36-year-old Golden State Warriors star discussed his gold medal run at the 2024 Paris Olympics and what it was like playing alongside his NBA rivals, especially LeBron James. Curry got to witness “up close and personal” the training regime that the 39-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star followed to keep himself maintained even at an advanced age. Watching it caused him to ponder about how, for him, LeBron, and Kevin Durant, slacking off is no longer an option. If the trio stands out today as an example of how an NBA player can be at the top of his game post-35 years of age, then it is “not by accident.”

“It’s everything that most people don’t get to see. It’s the time on the recovery table, it’s the time in the weight room, it’s day in, day out,” said Curry. “That little bit of investment in preparing your body and your mind to perform. There’s nothing really glamorous about it. It’s extremely hard work. It gets monotonous at times and dealing with all the bumps and bruises of being an athlete, injuries that you have, and all that type of stuff, it’s a grind.”

Curry added that watching each other’s workout regimes motivated both him and LeBron, providing the drive that would most likely help them in their remaining seasons. Such a push would be the need of the hour, especially since both LeBron and Curry are looking to add a 5 championship ring to their name before time runs out.

Unlike LeBron James’s six-day routine, Stephen Curry reportedly follows a five-day regime. However, he makes sure that the time he devotes is well-utilized. The NBA star devotes the first three days to his upper body, emphasizing exercises that benefit his chest, back, and shoulders. Thursdays are reportedly saved for Biceps and Triceps, while TGIF brings with it simple cardio work (Not so simple, however, as Curry spends over 45 minutes on the treadmill).

To maintain his reputation as a formidable shooter, Curry also has to often go the extra mile. Back in August 2023, the clip of the player’s ‘full-court star’ drill went viral, which featured him running full-court sprints to the different spots located behind the arc. To pass, Curry had to make 8 out of 10 shots and complete the task within a 55-second time limit. Failing to complete the practice regime would result in Curry being made to shoot two additional free throws and do the drill again until success is attained. By setting his own standards, the NBA star gave himself no excuse to slack off.

While the scare of injuries always accompanies a tough workout routine, Curry has also believed them to hold their benefits. Back in 2011, the Warriors player was on the brink of having his NBA career come to an end, as ankle injuries continued to plague him. Even as a surgeon rebuilt two ligaments on his right ankle “that had stretched apart like a rotting sweater,” Curry still went on to develop sprains five times after a 26-game period. As a result, he brought change to his playing style and workout routine, developed his core strength, and learned how hips could be used in order to give his ankles the needed rest. Warriors executive Bob Myers even spoke out about the changes and stated “It made Steph what he is now.”

Curry needs to make the best use of his available time, no matter how tedious or difficult the workout regime associated with it could become. After all, if Jeff Teague’s words are to be believed, then the player is just one more championship win away from cementing a better legacy.

Jeff Teague claims that a 5 ring will place Stephen Curry in the ‘Top 5’ list: “Definitely up there with Kobe”

There is no denying the fact that championship rings are an integral part of a great player’s legacy. Despite the individual prowess that athletes like Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, and Patrick Ewing displayed on the NBA court, the fact that they never won a championship ring continues to be a dark mark on their resume. Fortunately, Stephen Curry does not have to worry about that, as he has already led the Golden State Warriors to four championship wins. However, with a few more years remaining in his playing days, making an effort for a 5 ring would go a long way.

In a recent segment of the ‘Club 520 Podcast’, 2021 NBA champion Jeff Teague went on to state “He’s the best point guard ever. ‘Top 5’ player of all time? Yeah, he gonna be in that mix if he gets another ring. I just don’t see too many people better than him. He get another ring, he definitely up there with Kobe.”

By handing him the title of ‘best point guard ever’, Teague already placed Curry above Magic Johnson in the debate that ran prominently for quite some time last year. However, the former player also held some merit in making a comparison between the Warriors player and the Black Mamba. After all, while Kobe averaged 25 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over the course of his NBA career, Curry has managed to follow closely with his 24.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. Only having the same number of rings as the late player would allow him to be considered among the best of the best.

If Stephen Curry chose to take Jeff Teague’s words to heart, that “little bit of investment in preparing your body and your mind to perform” will only increase more. After all, given how the Warriors could not even make the play-in series during the recent NBA season, and the fact that Klay Thompson has now exited the franchise, Curry will have to carry an increased load on his shoulders.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.