Against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center, Curry turned a routine December game into another chapter of NBA history. The Golden State Warriors star poured in 48 points, drilling 12 three-pointers in a vintage display of shot making that kept his team within reach in a 136-to-131 loss.​

The performance gave Curry his 45th 40-point game since his 30th birthday, moving him one clear of Jordan’s 44 on the all-time list for players aged 30 or older. It capped a stretch in which he had already tied Jordan’s mark earlier in the season and underscored how routine explosive scoring has become for the 37-year-old guard.

Redefining Prime and Longevity

Curry’s record is as much about durability and evolution as it is about scoring totals. At an age when most guards have shifted into secondary roles, he remains the focal point of Golden State’s offense, warping defenses with limitless range and off-ball movement.

The numbers highlight a new standard for late-career excellence, especially for perimeter players. Curry’s 45 games with at least 40 points after turning 30 now stand alone in league history, ahead of not only Jordan but a generation of stars whose peaks traditionally faded earlier.

Legacy Beyond the Box Score

Passing Jordan in any scoring category carries symbolic weight, and this one speaks directly to how Curry has changed the geometry of the sport. His 12 made threes against Portland marked the 28th time he has hit double digits from beyond the arc in a game, an NBA best that further separates him from both his contemporaries and his predecessors.

Yet the record came in defeat, a reminder of the fine margins the Warriors now navigate around their aging superstar. Even so, every explosive night pushes the narrative forward: in the conversation about longevity and sustained offensive greatness, Curry no longer trails Michael Jordan. He is setting the bar for everyone who comes next.