Stephen Curry is arguably one of the greatest players in today’s NBA. After winning four championships with the Golden State Warriors and arguably revolutionizing the sport of basketball, Curry has proven to be one of the biggest threats when he’s on the hardwood.
With that in mind, opposing players now tend to tighten their defense around him. They would surround him with double teams, try to keep him away from the ball, let alone the court. A five-time NBA All-Star shared his thoughts after witnessing how harsh defenders can be towards Curry.
Al Horford is Surprised to Witness Stephen Curry’s Consistent Physical Beatdown
During the 2025 offseason, five-time All-Star Al Horford signed a deal with the Warriors. For the first time in his career, Horford has teamed up with Curry.
During a recent interview with Horford, sources asked what surprised the big man the most about playing next to Curry. In response, Horford shared that he noticed how eager defenders are when it comes to Steph.
Horford understands that it’s normal for stars to get checked on defense. However, when it comes to Curry, it seems more physical than usual. He’s surprised to see how often defenders make excessive contact with Steph. But he also understands that it’s their way of trying to stop the Warriors’ star from exploding on offense.
“Man, just the amount of times that the dude gets fouled and grabbed,” Horford said. “I feel like there’s always a point of emphasis about freedom of movement, and when I wasn’t his teammate, I didn’t see him enough to know. But the way that (defenders) grab him and hang onto him and pull him constantly, if that’s happening to any other guy, they’re calling those fouls, but with him, I guess you can’t call it every time.”
“But there’s like ways, right,” Horford continued. “Certain guys you’re able to grab a little bit, but with him it’s like they’re hugging, holding his chest, pulling him, it’s constant.”
Despite the challenges Curry has to face when on the offensive side of the court, he’s still among the best players today. Looking at his numbers this season, Steph is averaging 27.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game.
Being one of the greatest shooters in league history, it’s understandable why players would want to shut down Steph. If anything, it’s a compliment given how intense defenders can be to shut down the Warriors’ star.
