You’d think after nearly two decades in the league, we’d have a handle on how Steph Curry scores. We don't. Most fans just look at the nightly box score, see a number like 27 or 31, and shrug. "That’s just Steph," they say. But if you actually dig into the stephen curry points per game data, you start to see something weird. It’s not just a flat line of excellence; it’s a series of peaks, valleys, and some of the most efficient scoring stretches the NBA has ever witnessed.
Honestly, the way he’s scoring right now in 2026—at age 37—is borderline nonsensical. Most guards his age are looking for a spot on a contending bench or preparing their Hall of Fame speech. Instead, Curry is out here averaging 28.1 points per game this season. Think about that for a second. He's scoring more now than he did during his first MVP season in 2015. It’s kinda wild.
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The Evolution of the Chef’s Scoring
When Steph first entered the league back in 2009, nobody expected him to be a volume scorer. He averaged 17.5 points as a rookie. Respectable? Sure. World-shaking? Not really. People were more worried about his "glass ankles" than his shooting range.
But then 2015-16 happened. That was the year he became the first unanimous MVP, and his scoring skyrocketed to 30.1 points per game. That wasn't just a career high at the time; it was a shift in how basketball is played. He joined an elite club that year, becoming only the second player ever to average 30 points on a True Shooting percentage of .650 or higher.
Fast forward to the 2020-21 season. This is the year many real hoop nerds point to as his best. The Warriors were struggling, Klay was out, and Steph had to carry the entire offensive load. He ended up leading the league with a career-best 32.0 points per game. He was basically a human torch for six months.
Breaking Down the Career Averages
If you look at his career as a whole, his average sits around 24.8 points per game. But that number is a bit deceptive because it includes those early "ankle injury" years and the transition years where he shared the ball with Kevin Durant.
When Durant arrived in 2016, Curry's individual scoring actually dipped. He went from 30.1 down to 25.3. He didn't get worse; he just sacrificed. That’s the nuance people miss. Scoring averages aren't just about talent; they're about "usage rate" and team context.
Current 2025-26 Season:
- Average PPG: 28.1
- Three-Pointers per Game: 4.8
- Free Throw Percentage: 91.2%
- True Shooting (TS%): 64.2%
Why stephen curry points per game Still Matters in 2026
You’ve probably heard people say the league is "softer" now or that everyone shoots threes. While the league-wide scoring is up, what Steph is doing at 37 is a different beast entirely. He’s currently averaging 28.8 points over his last 30 games. He is the only player in the league right now—outside of the "Big Three" of Jokic, Giannis, and SGA—who is putting up 28+ points on 64%+ True Shooting.
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It's the efficiency that kills you. Most guys who score 30 a night need 25 shots to do it. Steph does it on 18 or 19.
He’s basically a master of "gravity." Even when he isn't shooting, his scoring threat creates points for everyone else. But we're here to talk about his points. Just this week, on January 15, 2026, he dropped 27 on the Knicks. A few days before that? 31 against the Hawks. He’s not slowing down; he’s just getting more surgical.
Playoffs vs. Regular Season
There’s this tired narrative that Steph shrinks in the playoffs. The numbers just don't back it up.
His career playoff scoring average is 26.8 points per game.
That is actually higher than his regular-season average.
In the 2022 championship run, he was averaging 31.2 in the Finals. The "points per game" metric isn't just a regular-season vanity stat for him; it’s a postseason weapon. He has ten 40-point games in the playoffs. Most "stars" are lucky to have two.
The Secret Sauce: How the Average Stays High
How does a 6'2" guard keep his ppg so high for so long? It’s not just the threes.
- The Free Throw Factor: He’s a career 91% shooter from the line. In 2026, he’s actually up to 92.9% in some stretches. Those are free points.
- Relentless Off-Ball Movement: He runs about 2.5 miles per game just to get open.
- Finishing at the Rim: People forget he’s one of the best layup artists in history. He shoots nearly 60% at the rim, which is insane for a guy his size.
Most people think of him as a "3-point specialist." That's a mistake. He’s a "scoring specialist" who happens to be the best shooter ever. If you took away his 3-point shot entirely, he’d still probably average 18 a night just on cuts, floaters, and free throws.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that he needs a "superteam" to score. Look at 2021. Look at the current 2025-26 roster. The Warriors aren't the KD-era juggernaut anymore. They are a gritty team built around his specific gravity.
When Buddy Hield or Brandin Podziemski are on the floor, it helps, but Steph is still the sun that everything orbits. His points per game have stayed high because he's adapted. He uses more screens now. He plays fewer minutes (about 32 per game) but maximizes every second he's out there.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking his stats or playing fantasy ball, here is what you actually need to watch for:
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- Watch the First Quarter: Steph often tries to get his teammates involved early. If he has 10+ points in the first quarter, he’s usually heading for a 35-40 point night.
- The "clutch" factor: In 2026, his scoring in the final five minutes of close games is among the highest in the league.
- Road vs. Home: Historically, he doesn't have a massive drop-off, but he loves the big stages like Madison Square Garden or Crypto.com Arena.
To really understand the stephen curry points per game trajectory, you have to look past the box score. You have to see the conditioning. You have to see the way he's still beating 22-year-olds to the spot.
Next Steps for Following the Season:
Keep an eye on his game logs for the upcoming back-to-back sets. At 37, the Warriors often rest him or limit his minutes on the second night of a back-to-back, which can slightly suppress his seasonal average even if his "per 36 minutes" scoring remains elite. If you want to see the true impact, check his "Points per 100 possessions"—that's where you'll see he's actually as productive now as he was in his prime.