Stephen Curry may be entering his 18th NBA season, but seven-time champion Robert Horry still believes the Golden State superstar will outperform LeBron James and Kevin Durant in 2026-27.
It is a controversial choice when Curry is 38, coming off an injury-disrupted season and playing for a Warriors team that missed the playoffs.
However, Horry was not ranking the three legends by career greatness or predicting which player would advance furthest in the postseason. He was asked who would produce the strongest individual season.
His answer was emphatic.
“If we go individually, I think I’m gonna go Steph first,” Horry said on the Big Shot Bob podcast.
“I think he still strikes fear in people’s eyes because when you can shoot it like that and have the handles and get to the rack and shoot floaters…”
Horry placed Durant and James together behind Curry.
“KD and LeBron, to me, are tied,” he said.
The comments were reported by Yahoo Sports.
Curry remains the NBA’s most terrifying aging superstar
LeBron remains a physical marvel. Durant is still one of the most efficient scorers basketball has ever produced.
Neither creates the same panic as Curry.
Curry’s mere presence forces defenders to pick him up several metres beyond the three-point line. Teams alter their defensive coverages before he touches the ball, while his movement without possession can destroy an otherwise organised defence.
James and Durant remain difficult to stop. Curry can make an entire defensive system look irrational.
That is what Horry means by fear.
Opponents know that two ordinary Curry possessions can suddenly become consecutive three-pointers. A competitive game can become a double-digit deficit before a coach has time to call a timeout.
His range has not declined. His ball-handling remains elite, and his ability to relocate after giving up possession ensures defenders cannot relax once the ball leaves his hands.
At 38, Curry is no longer the athlete who won consecutive MVP awards. He does not need to be.
His shooting remains so extreme that even a slightly diminished version can still be the most disruptive offensive player among the NBA’s older superstars.
Numbers support Horry’s argument
Curry’s 2025-26 season was disrupted by injuries, limiting him to 43 regular-season appearances.
When available, he still averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 30.9 minutes per game.
He shot 46.8 per cent from the field, 39.3 per cent from three-point range and 92.3 per cent from the free-throw line.
Curry also averaged 4.4 made three-pointers per game.
Those numbers are extraordinary for any player, let alone a guard nearing his 40th birthday.
Durant enjoyed the strongest campaign from an availability perspective. He played 78 games for Houston and averaged 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 52 per cent from the field and 41.3 per cent from three.
LeBron’s role and scoring output declined during his 23rd season, although his all-round playmaking and physical presence remained valuable.
Durant may be more efficient. LeBron may be more versatile.
But Curry remains the player most likely to produce an unstoppable 40-point performance built around a sequence of shots that nobody else should attempt.
Golden State’s weakness could inflate Curry’s numbers
The uncomfortable truth for Warriors supporters is that Horry’s prediction is partly based on Golden State’s failure to build a championship-calibre roster around Curry.
Durant does not need to carry Houston every night. The Rockets can share responsibility across an established core that includes Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet.
LeBron has joined a Philadelphia roster featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe.
Both veterans should be able to manage their minutes and conserve energy for the postseason.
Curry does not have that luxury.
Jimmy Butler is recovering from the ACL injury that ended his 2025-26 season. Moses Moody is also working his way back from a serious knee injury, while Golden State’s remaining roster lacks another consistently elite shot creator.
The Warriors finished 37-45 and were eliminated in the Play-In Tournament last season.
Unless Golden State makes another major move, Curry will again be asked to create a disproportionate amount of the team’s offence.
That could make Horry’s prediction correct while simultaneously exposing how badly the Warriors have managed the final seasons of their greatest player.
Curry producing better individual numbers than LeBron and Durant would not necessarily mean Golden State is more successful than Philadelphia or Houston.
It may simply mean the Warriors need more from him to remain competitive.
Warriors have wasted another offseason
Golden State’s inability to add another genuine star is becoming increasingly difficult to defend.
The organisation pursued LeBron before he chose Philadelphia but was unable to convince him that the Warriors offered the best championship opportunity.
Golden State has also been connected with a possible Durant reunion, although no trade has materialised. The Warriors reportedly remain open to bringing Durant back if his situation in Houston changes.
That possibility does little to help Curry now.
The Warriors appear caught between maximising Curry’s remaining championship window and protecting their future draft assets.
There is logic behind refusing to destroy the franchise’s long-term flexibility, but there is also a danger in becoming too cautious.
Players like Curry do not come around twice.
If Golden State spends another season hovering around the Play-In Tournament while Curry continues producing at an All-NBA level, the front office will have wasted another year it can never recover.
A recent hypothetical proposal even suggested trading Curry to San Antonio for a package headlined by Dylan Harper, although there is no indication either franchise has discussed such a deal.
That scenario remains unrealistic, but its existence reflects growing doubts about whether Golden State can still construct a contender around Curry.
Curry has more to prove individually
LeBron and Durant are entering situations where reduced workloads may be beneficial.
Neither needs to lead the league in scoring to make his new or current team dangerous.
Curry’s position is completely different. Golden State needs him to produce superstar numbers simply to remain relevant in the Western Conference.
That makes him the logical choice to finish with the best individual season of the three—as long as his body holds up.
Availability is the biggest argument against Horry’s prediction.
Curry played only 43 regular-season games in 2025-26. Durant played 78. Another injury-hit campaign would make any statistical comparison irrelevant.
The Warriors must protect Curry’s minutes without becoming so conservative that they fall out of postseason contention.
That balance will define their season.
Curry’s future is approaching a crossroads
Curry will earn approximately US$62.6 million during the 2026-27 season, the final year of his current contract.
Unless he signs another extension, he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
There remains little expectation that Curry genuinely wants to leave Golden State. He has spent his entire career with the franchise and transformed it from an inconsistent organisation into a global basketball power.
However, the Warriors cannot assume loyalty removes all pressure to improve.
Curry has already won four championships, two MVP awards and an NBA Finals MVP. He has also become the first active player honoured with a dedicated Basketball Hall of Fame exhibit.
His legacy is secure.
What remains uncertain is whether Golden State can give him one final legitimate championship opportunity.
Horry’s prediction is bold—but logical
Horry’s choice does not mean Curry is currently greater than LeBron or Durant across every category.
It means Curry is the one most likely to be asked to perform like a franchise saviour every night.
Durant has the supporting talent to choose his moments. LeBron can transition into a more controlled role on a loaded Philadelphia team.
Curry still has to terrify opponents for Golden State to survive.
That may be an indictment of the Warriors, but it also makes Horry’s prediction entirely reasonable.
If Curry remains healthy, he should produce the best individual season of the three.
The bigger question is whether Golden State will be good enough to make it matter.
