Stephen Curry has inspired a generation of shooters, but it wasn’t until he saw Trae Young enter the league that he truly understood the scale of his impact.
In a new episode of Mind the Game, Curry joined LeBron James and co-host Steve Nash for a deep-dive conversation about influence, evolution, and the art of shooting — with stories that spanned from his early Warriors days to the present.
“When Trae Young came into the league, that was the first person they said was like the ‘next’ me,” Curry said. “Even though he’s a different player, that was the first time I really thought about how far my impact had gone.” (Mind the Game Podcast)
GettyGolden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry drives past Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.
Warriors Star Reacts to LeBron’s Take on His Legacy
GettyLeBron James (L) celebrates Stephen Curry at the end of the men’s semifinal basketball match between USA and Serbia.
During the discussion, James asked Curry when he realized that what he was doing on the floor had changed basketball itself.
“When did you figure out, holy s—, Steph, what you’re doing on the floor is transcending a whole generation of players?” James asked.
Curry laughed before crediting his peers and even his critics for helping him recognize that shift. He pointed to his former coach, Mark Jackson, who once joked on an ESPN broadcast that Curry had “ruined the game” because so many young players were copying his deep shooting style — without his precision.
James jumped in with his own take, doubling down on how Curry transformed the league.
“What Mark didn’t realize is he ruined the league, too,” James said, smiling. “Everyone shoots 3s now. Everyone. Sixty a game, fifty a game. It’s all Steph. It’s all Steph.”
Warriors Revolution Began With a Green Light
Nash, who won back-to-back MVP awards during his own playing career, marveled at Curry’s willingness to push the boundaries of shot volume.
“You jumped 200 threes from one season to the next,” Nash said, referencing the Golden State Warriors guard’s leap from 646 attempts in 2014–15 to 886 in 2015–16. “Then the league followed — Dame, Klay — now every team has three or four guys shooting hundreds of threes.”
Curry credited then–general manager Bob Myers for giving him the confidence to test those limits.
“Bob was the first one to tell me, ‘You should shoot 15 threes a game,’” Curry said. “I was like, ‘What? You know how hard it is to get 12 good looks up?’ But he said, ‘The math says 15 is great for you.’ The game’s changed like crazy since then.”
Steve Nash Recalls the Moment Curry Ended His Career
GettySteve Nash, left, helped Stephen Curry win an MVP award while working with the Warriors.
At one point, the conversation took a personal turn when Nash shared the night he realized his own playing days were over — and it involved a young Curry lighting up the scoreboard.
“I’m guarding Steph,” Nash said. “They put up like 50 in the first quarter — maybe it was 45, but it felt like a 50-piece. He’s running everywhere. My back is broke. Everything’s jacked. I couldn’t have stopped him if I was 100 percent.”
It happened during a 2014–15 preseason matchup between the Lakers and Warriors in Ontario, California. Golden State stormed out with a 39-point opening quarter en route to a 116–75 blowout win. Curry scored 12 points in the first 2:30 and finished with 25 in just 24 minutes.
“A few days later I was like, yeah… I think it’s time,” Nash said, laughing. “You put me out!” (Mind the Game Podcast)
The Warriors’ Bottom Line
For Curry, the podcast wasn’t about legacy so much as reflection. The Warriors star spoke with humility about how the game evolved around him, even as he continues to define it.
The episode closed with the trio pulling up film from the 2016 NBA Finals, breaking down iconic moments from both sides. A second part, focusing on James’ perspective, is expected soon.
“This is the happiest I’ve ever been watching this game,” Curry joked as Nash replayed his highlights.
After all these years, Curry isn’t just watching history — he’s the reason it looks the way it does.
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