During a candid interview in December, Stephen Curry admitted that he thinks about retirement now more than he ever has before. After all, he is 36-years-old, just a couple of days away from turning 37, and he believes, “It’s OK to accept and acknowledge that the end is near.” But since Jimmy Butler’s arrival, the Baby-Faced Assassin has been playing some of his career’s best basketball and has clearly been rejuvenated. Which brings us to the question—How long can Steph keep playing?

Well, the Warriors star answered that question during his latest appearance on The Steiny & Guru Show, “I don’t know. I’ve tried to answer that question before and I’ve said a lot of different things just based on how I feel that day, but I think you know it’s all kind of measured on what the style of ‘Can I get to that level that I expect for myself?’”

Yes, as long as Curry is playing and delivering at a high level, he is unlikely to hang his boots. However, his expectations are not limited to just numbers and stats. “It’s just a feeling like ‘Can I dominate a game? Can I play my style for 30+ minutes?’” He added. Well, he has been dominant so far this season, leading the Warriors to the sixth seed in the West despite the underwhelming start.

Moreover, Steph’s numbers clearly show that he is still a lethal force, averaging 24.5 points and over six assists. Continuing the retirement talk, he said, “Then you kind of reevaluate every year. So, I know how my contract’s lined up and I’d like to outplay that for sure. How long that goes I have no idea.”

Steph inked a one year $62.6 million extension last summer, which secures his future in the Bay Area at least for the next two seasons. That means he is not leaving anytime soon. But his lingering injury woes could pose a threat to Curry’s retirement plan.

Stephen Curry says Injury “Still There” But Jimmy Butler’s arrival “Helps” Share the load

Well, Steph has been playing through multiple injuries this year, especially in his knee and ankles. And he has missed several games because of them. Fortunately, he has been more available on the court since Butler joined the team last month. When asked if Jimmy’s arrival has helped cure his bilateral tendinitis, Steph gave a concerning reply, “Nah. It’s still there.”

Although it may sound worrying, the four-time champ assured that the situation is under control, “I feel good. I think the idea is I’ve learned my body this year more than I have had to in the previous years… Over the last two months, I’ve been able to kind of commit to that process.”

Moreover, he detailed how Jimmy has helped in that process, “It helps obviously to have another guy where the load isn’t as demanding physically and emotionally every single game. Doesn’t mean that I’m not approaching it the same way, but it feels different… The vibe and everything on the court does help because you’re not carrying that load.”

Yes, the difference has been evident in Steph’s performance as his numbers have improved significantly playing alongside Butler. More importantly, the Warriors are winning games, which is the ultimate goal. Hopefully, Steph will be able to continue this rhythm and keep delaying his retirement because Dub Nation and the rest of the fans are not ready to see him go just yet.