How Stephen Curry Draws Inspiration From Tom Brady’s Career

As Stephen Curry enters the 13th season of his incredible career, one major question looms: how long can he sustain this for?

His 2021 All-NBA First Team selection indicates that he hasn’t slowed down yet. But his age of 33, style of play that relies on constant movement and relative lack of size are signs that he could have a significant decline in the coming years. He is fully aware of this, and is constantly looking for ways to counter this possibility. Those methods have included his workout and diet, but more recently, he’s focused on the mental aspect. And in doing so, he’s examined an athlete who plays a different sport.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady just turned 44. He is entering his 22nd season after a year in which he won his seventh Super Bowl and fifth Super Bowl MVP while playing the entire season with a torn MCL. He has not given much indication that he is close to retirement and there has been speculation that he could play until age 50. Curry may not be able to put together quite that long of a career, but he is trying to use it as a model for how to sustain excellence.

“I’ve actually talked to him, personally, about this,” Curry said while talking with NBC Sports Bay Area earlier this week. “He’s at the point now where he can look back and talk about that with some authority and experience.”

Brady’s physical health, particularly his controversial diet, is well-known. Curry’s main takeaway from their conversations was a mental exercise that Brady does. The exercise consists of Brady convincing himself that he is capable of playing two more seasons, regardless of his age, physical shape, or recent performance.

“He said, in the moment, when he was in his early-30s, mid-30s, late-30s, it was always, ‘I think I’ve still got two more years in me. Stay. Do everything I can to sustain yourself and stay physically and mentally sharp,’” Curry explained. “And then you look up and you’re saying that again, saying it [for] the next two years. And you’re saying it again.”

From an athlete’s perspective, this attitude seems to be a strong blend of preparing for the future and staying focused on the present. In terms of the former, planning ahead for the next two seasons can improve conditioning. By looking ahead to potential future competition, the player might be able to prepare for obstacles that they think will emerge and do specific workouts designed to ward them off. For the latter, the thought of achievements down the line can be a motivational tool. In Curry’s case, if he thinks about future team and individual success, he can encourage himself to do an extra round of shooting or an additional weightlifting session, knowing what specifically he is getting ready for.

“It’s all about staying in the moment, and not fast-forwarding, putting too much pressure on yourself to reach that milestone,” Curry said. “You do everything now to set yourself up for now and the future. Staying in the moment is all a part of getting there.”

Curry and Brady are two of the most legendary athletes of the 21st century. So it’s not totally surprising that the younger player would look to the older one for insight and guidance. Brady has broken basically all of our expectations about what a prominent star can do on a field or court in advanced age. Maybe Curry will follow his lead on that too.