Getty Image / Ezra Shaw
Steph Curry, once an undersized 3-point magician from Davidson College in North Carolina has been in the NBA for 15 long years and grown to be the face of the Golden State Warriors franchise while racking up 4 NBA Championship rings along the way.
The NBA is an unforgiving league. An average player spends just 4.5 years in the league with an only 0.03% chance of ever making it to the league in the first place. But Steph Curry has remained at the top of his game for 15+ seasons and has set numerous records along the way but retirement might not be too far off.
In February, Steph Curry is on the cover of Cigar Afcionado magazine and in the accompanying interview he teased his timeline for retirement and what’s next after he calls it quits.
Steph Curry on retirement and NBA team ownership: “That’s probably a good window to see how long I can keep playing in the league at this level, kind of go out on my own terms on the court…The North Star for me personally is team ownership within the league. That would be a dream come true. I’m definitely motivated and aspire to align the dots for when that’s ready when I’m done playing.”
It is a bit surprising that Steph Curry, one of the most athletic players in the league, is a habitual cigar smoker. And he discussed that some, telling Cigar Aficionado that he never smoked cigars during the regular season until he met Cam Newton. Curry said “I didn’t have one in season till I hung out with him. It honestly destigmatized it for me.”
He did add that he never smokes cigars on game days but didn’t clarify if the night before a game counts.
Elsewhere in the feature, Steph Curry gave advice on living in the moment. For anyone caught up in the rat race this might be music to your ears. Curry said “Slow down, be in the moment, be in the present and enjoy the company that you’re with. You want to enjoy every sip, just like you want to enjoy every puff you’re smoking.”
Steph Curry’s Cigar Aficionado cover hit shelves on January 23rd so if you’re a diehard Curry fan you can get out and scoop a copy on the CA website.