Stephen Curry has been revolutionizing basketball since his explosive breakout with the Golden State Warriors in the 2012-13 season—13 years ago. Now in his 17th NBA campaign at age 37 (turning 38 in March), Curry remains a bona fide superstar with barely any dip in production. He entered Monday night’s matchup on fire, fresh off a 35-point outing against the Portland Trail Blazers and a scorching 42-point performance versus the Denver Nuggets.
Yet, even Curry admits the relentless scoring bursts can’t happen every night anymore. The Warriors leaned on their depth in a commanding 131-118 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, where Curry played facilitator with a modest 16 points. Jonathan Kuminga paced the squad with 25 points, Brandin Podziemski delivered a breakout 23-point effort, and Moses Moody contributed 20 off the bench.
In his postgame press conference, Curry dropped a candid gem, fully owning his veteran era by dubbing himself an “unc”—slang for uncle, the ultimate nod to no longer being the young gun.
“There will be games when all of the Uncs are out and they’ll have to step up. I’ll lean into [being called an unc] for right now,” Curry said, via 95.7 The Game on X.
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Golden State’s roster is indeed stacked with “uncs” who require careful load management: Curry (37), Jimmy Butler (36), Draymond Green (35), and Al Horford (39), the fifth-oldest active player in the league. But the silver lining? The young core is rising to the occasion, ensuring the team thrives during vet rest days.
The Dubs are rediscovering their “Strength in Numbers” mantra. Kuminga, rejuvenated after a lengthy restricted free agency saga, is thriving under Steve Kerr’s expanded role and minutes. His 25-point, 10-rebound double-double against Memphis is the latest proof of his massive leap, as he buys fully into the Warriors’ system.
Podziemski and Moody shined brightly too, signaling that consistent contributions from this trio will be crucial to navigating the regular-season marathon. With the vets embracing their “unc” status, Golden State’s youth is proving they’re ready to carry the load—and then some.