Stephen Curry admits Trae Young made him realize his impact on the NBA

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry reflected on his influence on a new generation of players, revealing that Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young helped him recognize the full extent of its influence in the league.

Curry discussed the realization during the latest episode of Mind The Game, a podcast he co-hosts with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Hall of Famer Steve Nash. The 37-year-old guard said Young was the first player to let him know how his style changed the way the game was played.

“When Trae Young came into the league and it was like the first person they said was like the next me,” Curry said. “Even though he’s a different player. And I knew him back in high school. It was like the first time, I’m getting a little older with these kids watching you, and now they’re imitating their game the way you play.”

Curry added that seeing Young rise through the ranks and eventually make it to the NBA gave him perspective on his larger legacy.

“That was maybe the first time I really thought about it because he was a kid that came to one of our games, got to talk to him and the next thing you know he’s going to get drafted,” Curry said.

Stephen Curry reflects on NBA impact as Warriors, Trae Young’s Hawks face early season adversity

The four-time Warriors champion also addressed the frequent claim that he “ruined basketball” by popularizing long-range shooting, noting that he has learned to accept the conversation.

“I get the ‘You ruined the game’ question all the time after Mark (Jackson) said it, and now it’s kind of funny to me,” Curry said. “You realize there’s an impact, and now it’s about how you can let kids hear the story of the whole journey, not just the finished product.”

Curry continues to show his consistent excellence in his 16th NBA season. In seven games, he is averaging 26.6 points, 4.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three. He finished with 24 points, two assists and a steal Saturday’s 114–109 loss to the Indiana Pacersmarking Golden State’s second straight loss.

Meanwhile, Young’s eighth NBA season has begun with mixed results. The 27-year-old guard is averaging 17.8 points, 7.8 assists and two rebounds per game on 37.1 percent shooting from the field and 19.2 percent from three in five contests. His season took a setback last week when he suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee during the game A 117–112 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, The youth will be reassessed in four weeks. The Hawks (3–4) return to State Farm Arena on Tuesday to host the Orlando Magic before facing the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.

The Warriors (4–3), who have alternated wins and losses through their first seven games, will look to bounce back at the Chase Center on Tuesday when they host the Phoenix Suns (3–4) at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN.