Age is just a number, right? But for Stephen Curry & Co., age is being used as a narrative that might just be the fuel they need to prove everyone wrong. The whispers are getting louder. “They’re too old now. “The grind is too much”. The physical toll will finally catch up with them.” But there’s one problem with that theory. They’ve heard it before, and they’ve silenced those voices before. And now, as they push through another brutal playoff series, we’re left asking if the Warriors can still rise to the challenge?

This all unfolded after the Warriors’ devastating Game 6 loss to the Rockets, where the final score stood at Rockets 115, Warriors 107. The series is now tied 3-3, with the Warriors fighting to stay alive. The playoffs have become a battle for the Dubs. A battle against time, fatigue, and the ever-growing myth that their age is a liability. Can Steph Curry and his veteran squad shake off the critics and take their game to the next level, or is Father Time finally catching up?

Stephen Curry silences doubts—and Ayesha’s fears—with four words

While the world outside the Warriors’ locker room debates whether their age is too much of a burden, someone on the inside is watching very closely: Ayesha Curry, Stephen Curry’s wife. ESPN cameras caught a concerned Ayesha as she watched Steph battle through health struggles in Game 6. Her anxiety wasn’t about his performance. Rather, it was the physical toll the grind was taking on him. The long seasons, the travel, and the toll on his body. It’s clear she’s worried, and honestly, who can blame her?

Steph, however, isn’t one to show weakness. Despite Ayesha’s concerns, Steph calmly addressed questions about his health postgame. When asked about fatigue, he smiled and said, “I actually feel great.” That one line — confident, unbothered — was likely as much for Ayesha as it was for the doubters. He’s not ready to be counted out just yet. And while Ayesha’s love and concern for her husband are certain, she knows exactly what her 4x champion is capable of when he’s locked in.

And Curry’s secret weapon? His mind. As he said, the “zone” doesn’t physically drain him. It’s about finding those openings, reading the game, and making decisions in an instant. And that, right there, is why Stephen Curry can still deliver 23.4 points per game in the postseason, alongside 6.2 assists and a shooting percentage that would make younger players jealous.

And when questions turned to the locker room — about whether the team’s age was catching up, or if the constant travel was too much — Curry didn’t flinch. “You have to embrace the hard,” he said. “Whether it’s the physical challenges of doing it at this stage of your career, or just because you’re playing a good team.”

In that moment, he wasn’t just answering a question. He was shutting the door on the idea that this team is breaking down from the inside. But let’s not sugarcoat it. The toll of playing year after year, traveling cross-country, and facing fresh-legged competition isn’t without its costs.

The Warriors’ “older” team has to admit they’re not the young guns they once were. In an interview after a challenging game, Stephen Curry shared, “It’s different. It’s always been hard to win… but there are different challenges of figuring out a team that’s trying to take you out of your rhythm.” And those challenges are just as physical as they are mental.

The Warriors aren’t just fighting opponents. They’re fighting the weight of years in their bodies and minds, their ability to bounce back after every grueling game. Enter Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy Butler shuts down the age talk

Jimmy Butler’s not just brushing off the age narrative — he’s stomping on it with every game he plays. At 35, the man is still out here putting on a clinic. Forget what the critics say about mileage or years — Jimmy is proving it’s about heart, not the calendar.

When asked about all the chatter around age, rest, and travel taking its toll, Butler didn’t flinch. “I’ve never been one to listen to the outside noise or people as a whole because they just be saying stuff and half of it don’t make sense. So we’ll be alright,” he said. Vintage Jimmy — cool, unbothered, and laser-focused.

Just look at Game 6. Butler dropped 27 points, grabbed 9 boards, and dished out 8 assists. That’s not “past his prime” production — that’s big-game brilliance. Even in the loss to the Rockets, he was the one keeping the Warriors’ hopes alive. And in Game 4? He went off for 27 again — 23 of those in the second half and 14 in the fourth quarter alone. All while playing through a brutal tailbone injury. That’s not just effort — that’s legendary grit.

The whole age-and-travel narrative? Jimmy laughed it off. “I’m 35. Hell, I can’t remember how old Steph is. I think Dray 35, too,” he joked, before getting to the point: “Everybody’s got to travel the same distance. It ain’t like we’re gonna go around the world and then land in Houston, and they only got a five-minute flight.” He’s not wrong. Both teams are feeling it — age or not.

And here’s the thing — Butler’s numbers back up the bravado. Over his last four playoff runs, he’s averaged 26 points, nearly 7 rebounds, and over 5 assists across 43 games, according to Statmuse. That’s not the output of someone slowing down. That’s the resume of a man built for postseason warfare.

So yeah, when Jimmy laughs off the age narrative, it’s because he’s earned the right to. He’s still delivering like a star in his prime. And if the Warriors want to keep pushing through this gauntlet of a series, they’ll need every ounce of that fire and veteran grit he brings to the floor. And of course, the rest of the team needs to step up, too.