Stephen Curry has battled the greatest to ever play the game, from NBA Finals to regular-season classics. Entering his 17th season, the Golden State Warriors icon has seen every angle of high-level basketball.
When asked which players possess the sharpest mental edge, Curry pointed to two longtime rivals, both of whom are 40 years old and still dictating games deep into their careers.
How Do LeBron James and Chris Paul Continue Outsmarting Younger Competition?
In a league where physical gifts often take center stage, Curry took a moment to spotlight the mental side of greatness. While speaking to Complex’s Speedy Morman, the four-time NBA champion was asked to name the players he considers to have the highest basketball IQ.
“Between CP [Chris Paul] and Bron [LeBron James], those two,” Curry answered straightaway.
According to Curry, what sets James and Paul apart isn’t just their playmaking or scoring. It’s their orchestration, how they direct traffic, anticipate defenses, and adapt moment to moment.
“And it’s the way they play obviously, but where they talk, where they can kind of orchestrate the offense, control it. Like Bron, like the one that controls the tempo, the greatest and CP is the one that every possession like he knows what he is trying to get out and at his peak, like it was insane.
“He can get his bucket, he can get somebody who know allow drop down pass, you know what play, time of score, all that type of stuff, so those two are top of minds.”
Steph Curry says Chris Paul and LeBron James are the “highest IQ players he has ever seen”
“It’s the way they play obviously, but the way they talk— the way they can orchestrate an offense and control it.”
(Via @Complex)
pic.twitter.com/b2CbGVNgQD— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 25, 2025
Curry has more experience than most when facing Paul and James. He’s matched up with James in 55 total games, split between 27 regular season contests and 28 playoff battles, posting a 17-11 record in postseason play. Against Paul, he’s faced off 40 times during the regular season and witnessed firsthand the methodical brilliance that defined Paul’s prime years.
What Makes These Two Veterans Still Elite at Age 40?
At 40 years old, both James and Paul are entering what could be their final NBA seasons. James begins his 23rd campaign and holds the NBA’s all-time scoring record with 42,184 points.
However, his mental control of the game has always separated him from his peers. Whether in transition or halfcourt sets, James manipulates tempo, angles, and matchups like few have.
Meanwhile, Paul rejoins the LA Clippers, the franchise he led during the famed “Lob City” era. Though past his physical prime, Paul remains remarkably efficient. During the 2024-25 season, he posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 605 to 129, shooting 42.7% from the field and 37.7% from the 3-point range. These numbers prove that his basketball brain still outpaces most backcourts.
His ability to read defenses, time possessions, and secure precisely the look he wants has made him one of the smartest point guards in league history. Curry’s praise captures exactly that: Paul controlled every possession with surgical precision.
Their longevity speaks volumes about their mental mastery. Remaining effective into their 40s in a league that constantly gets younger and faster is no accident. It’s sustained by awareness, discipline, and strategic excellence. As Curry puts it, both James and Paul don’t just react to the game — they read it like a chessboard, often thinking several moves ahead of their opponents.
