Stephen Curry Report Card: Grading His 2025–26 Season at the All-Star Break
At the All-Star break, the NBA calendar invites reflection—and few players invite scrutiny quite like Stephen Curry. Entering his late 30s with four championships, multiple MVPs, and a legacy as the greatest shooter the game has ever seen, Curry’s 2025–26 campaign has been judged not just by box scores, but by standards only he faces. So how has he measured up at midseason? Let’s hand out the grades.
Scoring Impact: A-
Curry’s scoring remains the headline, even as defenses load up earlier and more aggressively than ever. His shot diet has evolved—slightly fewer pull-ups from the logo, more off-ball movement and quick-trigger threes created by screening actions. The efficiency hasn’t been nightly-perfect, but the gravity is intact. Every possession he’s on the floor bends coverage, creating space that doesn’t always show up in his own point totals. When the game tightens, he still delivers timely daggers. That earns an A-, with the minus reflecting the occasional cold stretch that comes with age and volume.
Playmaking & Offensive Orchestration: A
If there’s an area where Curry’s growth is unmistakable, it’s in how he conducts the offense. He’s reading traps faster, punishing switches with surgical passes, and trusting teammates earlier in possessions. His assist numbers don’t fully capture the value of his “hockey assists” and relocation gravity—those subtle actions that crack defenses open. At the break, he looks less like a pure scorer and more like a maestro managing tempo. That’s an easy A.
Off-Ball Value: A+
This is where Curry continues to separate himself from every other superstar. His conditioning, constant motion, and willingness to give the ball up remain unmatched. Defenders chase, help defenders hesitate, and entire schemes warp because of him. Even on nights when the shot isn’t falling, his off-ball work generates clean looks for others. In a league obsessed with on-ball dominance, Curry’s movement-first stardom remains revolutionary. At the midpoint of 2025–26, this is his strongest category: A+.
Defense & Effort: B+
Curry has never been defined by defense, but effort and intelligence have always been part of his profile. This season is no different. He’s competing, communicating, and holding his own within team concepts—especially in late-game possessions. He’s not locking down elite wings, but he’s rarely the weak link. The grade reflects solid contribution without overstating impact: B+.
Durability & Availability: A-
Availability matters more with age, and Curry has managed his body smartly. The schedule grind is real, and there have been nights where minutes were managed or back-to-backs approached cautiously. Still, he’s been present when it counts, and his rhythm hasn’t suffered from the maintenance plan. Considering the miles on his legs, that’s impressive. A- feels fair.
Leadership & Influence: A
Leadership isn’t always loud. Curry’s is often expressed through example—work habits, unselfishness, and accountability. Younger players lean into his calm. Veterans respect his clarity. When adversity hits, his response sets the tone. The locker room credibility is unquestioned, and the franchise still orbits around his standards. At the All-Star break, he earns an A for leadership.
Clutch Performance: A
When games tighten, Curry remains the variable opponents fear most. He’s taken—and made—big shots, but just as importantly, he’s made the right reads. Sometimes that means drawing two defenders and trusting a teammate. His clutch résumé didn’t need padding, but this season has added another chapter of controlled brilliance. That’s an A.
Context & Team Impact: Incomplete—but Trending Up
Basketball grades don’t exist in a vacuum. Curry’s season intersects with roster balance, health around him, and how well the system maximizes his strengths. At midseason, the results suggest his impact still lifts the floor—and ceiling—of his team. The grade here is incomplete because the second half will define it. Still, the trend line points up.
Overall Midseason Grade: A
So what’s the verdict at the All-Star break? Stephen Curry’s 2025–26 season earns an A—not because it’s flawless, but because it’s remarkably effective, adaptive, and influential. He’s no longer chasing records nightly; he’s shaping outcomes. The scoring bursts still come, but the mastery shows in how he controls games without forcing them.
In an NBA that refreshes its stars every few years, Curry remains a constant—evolving, adjusting, and still defining winning basketball. If the first half is any indication, the second half won’t be about whether he can do it again. It’ll be about how far he can take it.
And that, at this stage of his career, might be the most impressive grade of all.
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