Steph Curry's Trainer Explains How the NBA Star Stays Ageless on the Court

Stephen Curry's ability to perform at an elite level in the NBA, even as he approaches his late 30s, is attributed by his longtime trainer, Brandon Payne, to a significant adjustment in his offseason workouts. Payne stated that Curry's "window is going to stay open for as long as he wants it to stay open," emphasizing that the foundational work has been completed to support extended high-level play.

While Curry himself has not set a definitive timeline for his retirement, Payne indicated that the end of his career is not imminent. This comes after Curry experienced some injury concerns last season, including missing 27 games due to a knee issue and a minor ankle tweak during a recent team practice. However, Warriors coach Steve Kerr confirmed Curry was available for the team's season opener.

To maintain his effectiveness against younger, faster competition, Curry's training has shifted. Instead of the extensive running that characterized his earlier career, his current regimen focuses on cerebral drills. Payne describes these sessions as mentally demanding, designed to enhance Curry's decision-making and reaction times under pressure.

These drills involve Curry operating within smaller zones, reacting to flashing numbers, colored tennis balls, and paper, each corresponding to specific movements or ways to create space. This simulated game-like pressure sharpens his ability to process information quickly, making the game appear slower to him while his opponents struggle to keep pace.

Payne noted that this mental aspect of training is perhaps more challenging than Curry's previous high-mileage workouts. Curry's sustained success is partly due to his adaptability to the evolving nature of basketball, which has become more free-flowing. He has learned to use space more effectively, a skill honed through these adjusted training methods.

Payne highlighted Curry's consistent ability to find ways to generate offense against various defensive strategies and player types. He believes Curry's basketball IQ is comparable to that of LeBron James, describing them both as "AI on a level that we haven’t seen before."

Curry has expressed a desire to play "multiple" seasons before retiring. While he is more cautious with his joints during workouts, Payne downplayed concerns about a "new normal" dictated by age, suggesting it's a natural adjustment for any aging athlete. He emphasized that Curry's ability to adapt and process information at a high speed allows him to maintain a competitive edge.