The Golden State Warriors couldn’t fend off the Los Angeles Lakers in a nail-biting Christmas Day clash. The game featured yet another chapter in the legendary rivalry between LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Just when Curry drained two unbelievable threes to tie things up, Austin Reaves responded with a dagger—a game-winning layup that secured the Lakers’ victory over their division rivals.

Steph logged 36 minutes in the loss, a rare workload for him this season. According to Warriors’s head coach Steve Kerr, managing Curry’s minutes remains a priority. Kerr hinted that the team might rest Curry in one of their upcoming back-to-back games against the Clippers and the Suns. Kerr described Curry’s 36 minutes on Christmas as a “hard” stretch, emphasizing the physical toll it took. Translation? Don’t be surprised if Curry sits out to preserve his energy for the long haul—because let’s face it, the Warriors can’t afford a burned-out Steph.

Plus it was a different substitution pattern for Steph than we’ve seen this season. He mentioned, “We wanted him to get a little longer run to start the game and start the third quarter. So, um, we kept him out there.” Kerr shared that this adjustment stemmed from discussions with Curry. “I talked to him before the game, and he liked it,” Kerr said, adding that Curry himself had suggested tweaking his rotation weeks ago.

Previously, the Warriors had been pulling Curry out in the middle of each quarter, but Kerr noted, “I think the issue with that is he didn’t really get into much of a groove early in the game, because he was coming out so quickly….He looked great, obviously. I mean, he found a good rhythm.” Moving forward, Kerr hinted that this adjustment might stick, as the change allowed Curry to settle into the game more effectively while maintaining his high level of play.

Was this the last LeBron-Steph battle we saw? No, but one of them hinted at his retirement and it wasn’t Bron.

Stephen Curry feels he’s inching closer towards retirement

Curry isn’t shying away from the reality that his career is winding down. Speaking in a recent interview shared on ESPN’s X account, the Warriors icon reflected on the moment, saying, “It’s OK to accept and acknowledge that the end is near. But only because it allows you to enjoy what’s happening right now. But I think the more you talk about it and the more you acknowledge it, the more it levels up the sense of urgency in the moment, now.”

Even with the finish line approaching, Curry remains impactful. He’s averaging 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists this season. Although his scoring is lower than in recent years, his rebounds and assists exceed his career averages. His 3-point shooting has slipped to 36.3%, but his efficiency inside the arc has risen to .571, well above his lifetime average of .517. He’s also playing fewer minutes—31.0 per game—allowing him to conserve energy for the long haul.

Curry has built an unmatched resume with four NBA titles, two MVP awards, 10 All-Star selections, and 3,841 career 3-pointers, setting an all-time record. Despite a tough game against Memphis, where he went 0-for-7 and scored just two points, his overall contributions keep the Warriors competitive.

As Golden State prepares to face the Lakers on Christmas, they’re a half-game behind LA in the standings. Curry, 36, has logged 979 regular-season games and 147 playoff appearances. While he hasn’t hinted at when he’ll step away, he acknowledges retirement crosses his mind more often. Still, with a contract running through 2026-27, Curry isn’t done chasing greatness just yet.