New rules: Warriors star Stephen Curry benefits from modern-day freedom to scurry around.

Rules, freedom could let star stay at the top longer

Tim Legler is an unabashed Stephen Curry fan. Legler called Curry’s combination of skills — ballhandling, passing, shooting — the best in NBA history, and Legler puts him second in this season’s MVP race behind Philadelphia center Joel Embiid.

Still, there’s a bigger reason Legler expects Curry to keep producing at a high level for several years: the freedomofmovement rules allowing the Warriors’ AllStar to avoid the kind of punishment guards once absorbed.

“If ever there was a time for a Steph Currylike player to play at a high level into his late 30s,” Legler said in a phone interview, “this is the time.”

Legler led the NBA in 3point shooting 25 years ago, at 52.2% for the thenWashington Bullets. He tore up his knee late that season, returned too quickly and ultimately retired at age 33, after playing in 23 games for the Warriors in 19992000.

Now, in his role as an ESPN analyst, Legler watches the NBA with a critical eye and a former player’s understanding of how the pro game has evolved.

Asked about Curry’s chances to extend the boundaries of his prime — he turns 33 on Sunday — Legler cited two factors in Curry’s favor. First, advances in technology and modern training methods will help his body recover from the grind of an 82game season.

“But I think an even bigger reason is the rules of the game, and lack of physical contact on guards,” Legler said. “Steph is going to beat you with finesse, not power. He’s a slightly built guy and he’s not involved in handtohand combat. …

“He doesn’t end up on his back a couple times a game on drives — that part of game has been removed. There’s a reason guards traditionally get into their early 30s and their shooting percentages drop. That physical contact wears you out.”

Video clips of the ’90s Bulls, or Bad Boys Pistons, offer strong evidence. Defense in those days often meant grabbing, holding and riding an opponent on his hip when he drove to the basket, Legler recalled — all while knowing a teammate loomed in the lane, eager to knock said opponent to the court.

Legler expects Curry’s ballhandling skills to stay sharp as he moves deeper into his 30s. His “escapeability” off the dribble — how he usually creates space for his shots — figures to fall as he becomes older, which will force him to adapt.

“When he gets to about 36, his percentage on those shots off the dribble will probably drop a little,” Legler said. “But there’s no reason to think Steph’s catchandshoot percentages will significantly decline until he’s 38 or 39. …

“Here’s the thing about Steph and why his value will continue — the amount of offense he creates for others with his presence and motion. Even if he’s a 22pointspergame scorer four years from now, he will create more offense than anyone in the league.”