Fighting for a play-in spot is a far cry from what the Golden State Warriors have been used to for the better part of the last decade. But this is where they stand this season. With 45 wins in 81 games, the Warriors occupy the 10th seed in the Western Conference standings, a stark departure from their sixth-place finish last season. However, their decline in performance has been due to one prominent factor – the core members of the team are past their prime, save for Stephen Curry. With Curry now on the other side of his thirties, it might soon be time for the 36-year-old to ride off to the sunset, but medical experts believe otherwise.
At 36, Stephen Curry has reached an age where many NBA players, particularly guards, begin to show signs of decline. And that could also have been the case for Curry had it not been for his remarkable hand-eye skills. According to Dr. Andrew Budson, chief of cognitive and behavioral neurology at VA Boston Healthcare System, “I wouldn’t expect to see much degradation of hand-eye skills at 36. Other things change — people don’t run as fast and physical stamina isn’t as good — but actual hand-eye coordination doesn’t really suffer that much. … I would say you’d see a drop after 40.”
Assistant coach Bruce Fraser agreed with this premise. He, too, expects Steph’s hand-eye skills to endure longer than other physical abilities, giving him a good chance of playing at a high level in the seasons to come.
Stephen Curry’s hand-eye skills could extend his career
Curry’s hand-eye coordination, which Fraser called a “genetic gift” from his dad, who played 16 years in the league, and his mom, who used to be a volleyball player in college, is also a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft. Curry’s training sessions include dribbling two basketballs simultaneously, dribbling while tossing a tennis ball to a nearby trainer, and dribbling while five lights alternately flash on a wall in front of him to help his hand-eye coordination.
Hand-eye coordination is a critical factor that distinguishes good players from great ones. Even at 36, Curry is still at the top of his game, leading the league in three-pointers made this season with 357. The closest to him is Luka Doncic, who trails behind with 284 3s this season. The hand-eye skills are also one of the main reasons why players who rely heavily on speed or force sometimes last longer. Just look at John Stockton, who played until age 41, or Steve Nash, who made the All-Star Game at age 38. The same can be said for fellow Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul, who is still productive even as he approaches his 39th birthday next month.
