Steph Curry still puts in top-notch performances every week (Image: Getty)
Steph Curry has praised football maestro and Inter Miami talisman Lionel Messi. The four-time NBA title winner is still going strong despite entering his twilight years and recently signed a new contract extension with the Golden State Warriors.
At 36 years old, Curry is averaging 22.7 points per game this campaign, along with 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds. While not exactly classic Curry levels, his numbers have been hamstrung by the fact that Steve Kerr's current team isn't what it once was, having been one of the best dogs who ruled the NBA from 2014 to 2022.
For eight years, Steph and his Warriors reshaped the basketball landscape, winning championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022 thanks to a formidable team with Curry at the helm, scoring iconic three-pointers. Despite their past dominance, the Warriors are finding this season difficult with a mediocre 19-20 record and stuck in 12th place in the Western Conference.
Yet Curry, reflecting on a recent loss to the Toronto Raptors, revealed how Messi, the center of David Beckham's Inter Miami squad, was cheering him on as he prepared to hang up his sneakers. He recently told the media: “Greatness inspires greatness in many ways. There is nothing specific that you can apply from football to basketball,” reports the Mirror US.
“It's about longevity, creativity and [Messi’s] impact on sport around the world. We appreciate greatness, of course it inspires you to keep going and do things your way. I have the utmost respect for him for the way he takes care of himself on and off the field. I try to emulate the same thing.”
Although Curry hasn't set a definitive end date for his career, the Golden State Warriors star — whose contract runs through 2026 — hinted at thoughts about retirement in an interview with ESPN in December 2024. He said: “It’s okay to accept and recognize that the end is near.”
Lionel Messi had a remarkable football career (Image: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
For his part, Argentine football legend Messi, eight times Ballon d'Or, is going through the final years of his illustrious career in MLS. Although he led Miami to a record-breaking season in the Eastern Conference, their unexpected playoff exit at the hands of Atlanta United came as a surprise to many fans.
However, as Messi turns 38 this year, he remains discreet about his plans. He shared with Forbes in October, “I haven't set any dates or deadlines for my future. I'm just enjoying it all.” He also intriguingly suggested his career could extend further, with rumors of a potential new contract with Miami that would see him stay at the club beyond the 2026 World Cup.
He added: “I've always said that things happen for a reason and I never get ahead of myself. I live day by day, I try to enjoy every moment, and when it comes time to decide if I can be at the next World Cup, we will see I hope I can continue to perform at this level to feel good and be happy because when I feel good I can enjoy what that is. I do.
As Messi improves Miami's performance, Curry has advised the Golden State Warriors to stay calm amid speculation of an interesting trade, with talk hinting at a move for the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler. The sharpshooter stresses the importance of not making rash decisions as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches, focusing on keeping the Warriors thriving even after he leaves.
“In the case of desperate trades or desperate moves that deplete the future, there is a responsibility to allow or keep the franchise in the right space and in the right place when it comes to where we leave this thing when we're done,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you don’t try to improve.
“That doesn't mean you're not active in any type of search – if you have an opportunity where a trade makes sense or even during the summer, free agency [move] makes sense. You want to keep improving. No one wants to be obsolete or in a situation where you are missing out on opportunities.
Curry looks to future with Warriors after tough season (Image: Getty)
“But that doesn't mean you're desperate and throwing assets everywhere just because you want to do something. While we understand that we're getting older and deeper into our careers, we're allowing some younger to make something flourish, that doesn't mean you're desperate.”
Curry, a two-time league MVP with several formidable records that may remain undefeated, has made the most three-pointers in NBA history and currently holds the highest free throw efficiency of all time, at 91 percent. He also set the record for consecutive regular season games with at least one three-pointer, with 157.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/2000963/Lionel-Messi-Steph-Curry-NBA