It's time to expect Steph Curry to slow down

Steph Curry is 36-years-old. When you watch him play, it's hard to believe that he's coming toward the end of his storied career. He still flies around the court like a 20-something. His movement never stops, and his energy remains as infectious as always. 

However, Curry is starting to spend more time on the injury report. He's having games where he's under a minutes restriction. We might not want to accept it, but Curry is starting to slow down. Week by week, month by month, he is getting older. 

Recently, Curry has been dealing with a recurring knee injury. During a recent news conference, the sharpshooting veteran admitted that it's something he could deal with for the remainder of his career. He noted that his age is likely playing a part. 

“It has the potential to be a nagging type thing if you don’t take care of it," Curry said. "I'm not concerned about it all, but the deeper into your career, the more things pop up."

Fortunately for Curry, his game has never relied on explosive movements or acts of elite athleticism. His shooting ability will be one of the last things to dwindle. However, his stamina may become a concern if he chooses to stick in the league closer to his 40s.

For now, though, Warriors fans should accept that Curry will spend time on the injury report or glued to the bench. Steve Kerr will do everything he can to keep the veteran fresh for the postseason. In truth, that may be part of the reason for the Warriors' 12-man rotation. 

Curry doesn't have the once-in-a-generation genetics like LeBron James. He can't be the most physically dominant player in the league. However, he does have his own set of elite skills, and they will ensure he remains an elite talent for the duration of his career. Eventually, though, Curry must make the jump to becoming a shooting guard, where he can work off the catch and hurt teams in a sniper role. 

It's going to be weird watching a player who revolutionized basketball start to decline. Unfortunately, it's part of life and part of professional sports. Even the greats come back down to earth sooner or later.