Stephen Curry has long been one of the most uniquely gifted offensive players in NBA history, a player whose influence has transformed how the game is played at every level. From his deep three-point range to his dazzling handle and elite off-ball movement, Curry’s impact transcends just box score numbers. But there’s always been an aspect of his game where he hasn’t received the benefit of the doubt—drawing fouls. For years, Curry’s ability to create space with footwork, rhythm, and release timing has ironically worked against him. Despite absorbing contact on the perimeter and in the paint, especially during jump shots, he rarely received the whistle. That narrative, however, is starting to change, and it’s largely due to a recent rule tweak that could redefine how perimeter players, particularly sharpshooters like Curry, are officiated.
In his third preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Curry shot thirteen free throws—a staggering number considering his track record. To put that in perspective, it took him sixty-four regular-season games last season to accumulate the same number of free throw attempts. That sudden increase isn’t just a statistical anomaly; it’s a clear result of the NBA’s rule adjustment aimed at protecting shooters. The league has instituted a new regulation that categorizes contact with the shooter’s hand—whether before or after the release—as an automatic foul. This type of contact, colloquially known as “hot stove contact,” has been a grey area for years, often leading to frustration for perimeter players who felt they were being unfairly penalized for being precise. Now, the NBA has made it official: if you hit the hand, you’re whistled, period.
Curry’s game has always relied heavily on finesse, angles, and balance. He’s not someone who barrels into defenders looking for bailouts. His handle creates space, and his quick release forces defenders to contest tightly, often leading to glancing blows or hand contact that went unpunished. Defenders knew they could take liberties with minor contact, especially if it came after the ball had left Curry’s hands. The idea was that as long as the shot wasn’t obviously affected, or the contact wasn’t blatant, no foul would be called. But that approach ignored the cumulative physical toll of constant hand-checks, grabs, and slaps to the wrist or fingers—all of which can impact a shooter’s rhythm, even if subtly.
The updated rule is a game-changer for Curry in particular. Last season, despite ranking in the top 15 in drives per game—a testament to his aggressive playstyle and ability to penetrate—he only averaged 4.3 free throws per game. That figure is remarkably low for a player of his offensive volume and usage. Comparatively, other high-usage guards like James Harden or Luka Dončić routinely find themselves at the line upwards of eight to ten times a night. The discrepancy often boiled down to how officials viewed contact on jump shots versus contact at the rim, and how Curry’s seemingly effortless style masked the punishment he was taking.
But with the league’s new stance, defenders can no longer bank on the ambiguity of “incidental contact” on the hand. What used to be dismissed as part of the game is now grounds for a foul. For Curry, who has developed an uncanny ability to absorb contact while still maintaining form and focus, this opens up an entirely new layer of efficiency. It not only allows him to capitalize on the contact he’s been enduring for years but also forces defenders to adjust how aggressively they contest his shots.
One of the key elements of this rule change is the emphasis on protecting the shooter’s follow-through. A significant amount of contact occurs during the natural extension of the shooting motion—after the ball is released but while the arms are still elevated. In the past, if a defender made contact with the shooter’s hand in this phase, it was often dismissed. Now, that contact is being rightly recognized as interference. This benefits not just Curry but a generation of players whose shooting techniques rely on fluid mechanics and release timing. However, Curry, more than anyone, stands to gain because of how frequently he operates in this contested space.
The early results are already evident. In the preseason, we’re seeing defenders pull back slightly, hesitant to challenge shots as aggressively for fear of triggering a foul. Curry is exploiting that hesitation, driving with more confidence, knowing he’s more likely to be rewarded for the contact. And when he does step back for one of his signature deep threes, he’s getting cleaner looks—or he’s getting to the line. Either way, the numbers are going to benefit him.
This adjustment also puts defenses in a difficult position. For years, the best approach to guarding Curry was to be physical. You had to crowd him, bump him off his spots, grab at him off screens, and contest every shot with hands extended. The goal was to disrupt his rhythm, even if that meant flirting with the line of legality. Now, defenders have to recalibrate. Overzealous closeouts, even minor hand taps, can result in three free throws. That changes the risk-reward calculus dramatically. Is it worth contesting a 28-footer if the slightest miscalculation leads to a foul and three easy points? For many defenders, the answer might increasingly be no.
What makes this situation even more compelling is that Curry has never been known for hunting fouls. Unlike some players who have built parts of their game around baiting contact, Curry has always focused on maintaining shot integrity. He’ll attempt the shot regardless of whether he’s being hit. That’s part of what’s made his low free throw rate so perplexing over the years. He wasn’t gaming the system—he was simply playing through it. Now that the system is offering him a bit more protection, he doesn’t need to change a thing. The rules are just finally catching up to the reality of how he’s been playing all along.
If this trend holds through the regular season, Curry could be in for one of the most efficient scoring years of his career. He’s already among the league leaders in true shooting percentage every year, and that’s without a significant free throw boost. Add four to five more free throws per game, and suddenly you’re looking at a potential 30+ point per game scorer with minimal increase in shot volume. It also takes pressure off his legs late in games. Free throws are high-efficiency rest opportunities. For a player who logs heavy movement minutes, getting to the line more frequently can help preserve energy and extend his impact across four quarters.
The broader implication is that the NBA is slowly shifting back to favoring skill over brute force on the perimeter. After several seasons of letting more physicality slide in the name of “letting them play,” the pendulum is swinging again. The league wants to reward players who have mastered the technical aspects of the game, not just those who can bulldoze their way to the rim. Curry embodies that philosophy. He’s a craftsman, and the new rule is essentially acknowledging that artistry deserves protection.
Of course, there will be criticism. Some will argue that this favors shooters too heavily, that it’s another step toward making defense impossible. But the reality is more nuanced. This rule doesn’t penalize clean contests; it penalizes contact that interferes with a shooter’s skill execution. There’s still room for strong defense—just not sloppy or reckless closeouts. And that’s a good thing. It places responsibility on defenders to be disciplined and precise, which aligns with the same standard offensive players are held to.
There’s also the matter of league-wide ripple effects. If Curry starts drawing more fouls, it won’t go unnoticed by other guards and wings. Players like Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, Trae Young, and Devin Booker—guys who thrive on tough shot-making—will begin to expect the same calls. Officials will need to be consistent, and that could lead to a broader uptick in free throw rates for perimeter scorers. It could also influence how young players train. If drawing contact on jumpers becomes a viable offensive strategy, we may see more players incorporating that into their development.
But in the immediate term, this is about balance being restored for a player who’s had to navigate defensive schemes that were tailored specifically to limit his influence, often with physicality that went unchecked. Steph Curry has been burned—literally and figuratively—by the old interpretation of contact rules. He’s taken hits, played through them, and rarely complained. Now, the game is finally adjusting to protect what makes him special. The whistle is catching up to his greatness.
So, yes, defenders could be in for a long season. Not just because Curry is hitting shots—he’s always done that—but because for the first time in a long while, he’s being rewarded for the physical toll it takes to be that efficient. If the preseason is any indication, the league might have just unintentionally created an even more dangerous version of Stephen Curry. And that’s a reality the rest of the NBA will have to reckon with.
