Steph knows end of NBA career 'is near'

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is well aware that he's closer to the end of his illustrious NBA career than the beginning.

"It's okay to accept and acknowledge that the end is near," Curry told ESPN's Malika Andrews. "But only because it allows you to enjoy what's happening right now. But I think the more you talk about it and the more you acknowledge it, the more it levels up the sense of urgency in the moment, now."

Curry, 36, is in the 16th season of his career. He's enjoying another strong campaign for the Warriors, averaging 21.8 points, five rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game across 23 appearances.

The Warriors have cooled off after a hot start, and sit eighth in the Western Conference with a 15-13 record. Curry is focused on trying to maximize the team's opportunity to contend for a championship for however long he keeps playing.

"It's just a matter of acknowledging me and Draymond (Green) aren't in our prime. We're in a situation where you have to think about the game a little differently," Curry said. "But if you're not winning, the answer's how do we make this happen. For me, I know I only have a certain number of years left and I want to win desperately."

Curry and the Warriors are set to host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center on Christmas night.