In an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Stephen Curry emphasizes his desire to finish his career with the Warriors, but admits there are circumstances that could make him think about leaving. Curry’s comments are in response to a question about whether he would be willing to follow the path of Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki, who remained loyal to one franchise but wound up playing on average teams late in their careers.
“It’s tough, right? I’ve always said I want to be a Warrior for life,” Curry said. “At this stage in my career, I feel like that’s possible. And you can still be competitive, it doesn’t mean you guaranteed the championship. It doesn’t mean winning. Winning is always a priority, but obviously you’re realistic. It doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen if you stay the course. You need to shake things up and keep re-imagining what it looks like to evolve with what the league is at right now, with where some of these talented teams are now.
“I’m taking it one step at a time to be honest. I think that’s the only way that will protect my happiness. Also, it allows me to enjoy being myself when I’m out there playing. And I’ll continue to make the decisions that are best for me and for my career at the end of the day when it comes to just the imagination. I want to win. Let’s put it this way, it’s a long-winded way of saying that it if it is a situation where you’re a bottom feeder and it’s just because you want to stay there, I’d have a hard time with that. But I don’t think that’s going to be the reality.”
Curry is only two years removed from a championship, but Golden State was knocked out of the play-in tournament last season and the roster is starting to undergo significant changes. Klay Thompson, Curry’s longtime backcourt partner, was sent to Dallas in a sign-and-trade earlier this month, taking away an important element of the group that captured four titles over the past decade.
Curry said it still feels “weird” to think about the Warriors without Thompson, and he doesn’t expect his absence to fully sink in until the start of training camp.
“All things have to come to an end at some point. I wish it would’ve turned out differently,” Curry said. “I wish we could have rode into the sunset, all three of us [Curry, Draymond Green and Thompson] as Warriors for our whole career. [Thompson] made a decision that he felt was best for himself. What we were able to do for how long we were able to do it and together, it’s special and it speaks to how hard it is to do that. So, I’m going to choose to celebrate all the things we accomplished and all the experiences we had instead of feeling any type of resentment.”
The Warriors have retooled their roster this summer, adding De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield since the loss of Thompson. Curry also pointed to Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis as young players who have to take on greater responsibilities for the Warriors to become title contenders again.
“You have to make the necessary adjustments and evolve how we play to maximize the team that we have,” he added. “I have an optimistic attitude that it’s going to work and that we are going to be a competitor, be in the mix until proven otherwise. That’s the only way I can think right now.”
“[…] whether he would be willing to follow the path of Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki, who remained loyal to one franchise but wound up playing on average teams late in their careers.”
The Lakers and Mavs in Kobe’s and Dirk’s last three years were not average. They WERE bottom feeders.
Kobe partially caused the Lakers to be bottom feeders by never accepting a lower value contract, which handcuffed them in FA. Dirk, however, did take low $ deals in those years, the Mavs FO just had no clue how both build around Dirk and to try and find out who the next guy up was and build around them together, at the same time. Either case doesn’t match with Steph/GSW.
The Warriors FO has never been “bad” in Curry’s era and they appear to have knocked it out of the park with the Kuminga/Moody/Jackson-Davis/Podziemski/Post/Beekman picks. That’s 6 NBA regulars to add to Steph/Dray/Wiggins. Plus there’s still enough room to spend on a Lauri or Lauri-type player to pair with Curry as a star scorer when Wiggins is gone. I think Steph’s comments here are airy and basically he’s saying he would accept a trade to a contender if GSW are very bad in 5ish years…but how are they going to be bad with a youth core of Kuminga/Moody/Jackson-Davis/Podziemski/Post/Beekman? It seems like at minimum, GSW will contend for the playoffs and not be a bottom feeder for the rest of Steph’s career, however long that may be.
Jesus Christ dude. This anti player nonsense has to stop. If anyone in the league earned the money that they made it was Kobe Bryant. Why he should have to sacrifice money for the team’s sake is beyond me. The Brunson deal has done exactly what everyone in the NBAPA was worried about. Let the guys who’ve earned their money get paid.
It’s hilarious to me that the people who think stars should take less don’t seem to have a word to say about Cade or Mobley getting paid $50 million for doing nothing. Buzzwords on ESPN have cultivated a new era of fan that absolutely hates basketball players. Its disgusting.
Sacrificing money for the good of the team is nothing new. But it’s generally the class players who do it.
What about owners sacrificing money for the good of the players? Why is it on the players? Aren’t the owners the ones that wanted the convoluted cap system in the first place? Why can’t they navigate their own self-imposed rules?
@reflect there’s rules about taxes and caps?
Davey Jerk lives in a delusional world of moody/Jackson/Davis and whoever has done something in this league. Curry being elite has the warriors a constant contender,no matter what’s around him. Foolish child in my opinion.
It is worse on the pro football one. Most of them complain about players need to honor contract even when it has no guarantees. Like the sport isn’t physical and one hit can be the end. Why take less when the owners got billions?
That is a problem. It’s not sustainable. People are getting paid without doing anything. If cade or mobley are busts then you basically ruined your chance at a ring because you overpaid them. And I’m all for vets getting paid but a player like jaylen brown being the highest paid player is ridiculous. Plenty of players better than him.
Davey, out of 6 young guys you mention, only 3 are established rotation regulars. Moody so far isn’t, and Post and Beekman were passed up by 50 teams picking in front of the Warriors.
By the way, I’m hoping the Warriors can make the playoffs this year and get hot and make a little run by winning a series maybe two.
I think their defense will be better and their overall roster seems better than last year.
Davey has gone by many other names on here but he is consistently the most egregious homer on this site. Virtually anyone the Warriors have drafted in the last 5 years he’s said will be a future star. Many of those picks are already out of the league.
She is a troll.
I have never been on here before? Weird thing to say but also, who cares? If you don’t like a poster, just mute them?
Maybe if the mute button worked both ways instead of just 1-way, none of this will happen. C-Daddy, you posted too much weird about me, making it about me instead of basketball talk – welcome to my shadow realm! MUTED!
LOL Davey we all know this isn’t your first/only account. Speaking of muting, looks like you can see me again… fragile ego?
@Gary Moody is more than ready and was in the starting lineup a bunch of times last year, getting over 25+ MPG a bunch of times and playing well. I still don’t understand why you hate him so much. Draft pick position does not matter, and by your own metric, 18 teams passed up Podziemski. Joker was drafted 41st. Unsure why you bought up draft positioning. Post’s footwork has me drooling at his ceiling and readyness.
I think GSW has much improved from last year are a Lauri away from the WCF. Draymond and Wiggins playing instead of sitting is a huge plus few are talking about. This team is GOOD right now. If healthy, they will be top 6 easily. I saw on ESPN “Are the Warriors underrated?” and the answer was YES.
I’m definitely optimistic about Post and Beekman. Fingers crossed they work out but I don’t think you can put them on the “ready to contribute” Side Of The Ledger until we’ve seen them in action.
I said the same thing about Podz last year! What if Post and Beekman make similar “ready now” jumps? The overall point of this post is Curry wondering if GSW will stay out of the worst 5 teams in the league group, and my post proves that is extremely unlikely, given the wealth of talent they already have.
The front office has made several major mistakes that have absolutely changed the fortunes of the team for the worse. The Wiseman pick, the Poole contract, overpaying Draymond then expecting Klay to take a pay cut, these were all moves that were questioned heavily at the time.
Well it’s one or the other…
Can’t have both…
Isn’t that what he’s saying? He’d love to stay unless they suck? Not sure your point lol.
Yea but they will inevitably suck as every team does. So he really didn’t answer the question in any meaningful way. Kobe and Dirk both played through some brutal lottery years.
My point is he can’t have it both ways…
Unless he plans on retiring early… Most star players are overpaid and underperform in their later years…
LBJ and Kareem are rarities…
JUST TRADE FOR A Fn CENTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Payton, Waters, draft rights, cash etc for? Kelly Olynyk or Steven Adams or Vooch?
Start Heild. Podz needs to develop with the other super subs
Two way Ethan Thompson(treat him like Klay, just don’t give him his jersey number), Post and Cro…?
You just need a C to start and play 25 minutes a night
Offer Melton, Heild and Kyle Anderson for Klay Thompson. Go to Wilt’s grave and ask for help at C. anything. Hey Bogut mind playing 15 minutes a night and start?
Rick Barry could do it by himself
Have to wonder what Curry is hinting at…what he is saying between the lines. Potentially very troubling…
He’s just taking it day by day. Nothing troubling about it at all. Isn’t that how we all approach life?
If he leaves next year or the year after so what? I for one appreciate what he’s done and enjoy the time he is still here.
If the Warriors are bottom feeders next year or the year after then go shoot threes for one more ring somewhere else. No problem at all.
i have no worries this is just click bait NBA news because there is not much else happening in the NBA right now. I don’t see the warriors are bottom feeders unless Curry gets injured. They are middle of the road team like most in the west. Just wait and see what happens.
Another snippet to file away.., Curry does not mention Moses Moody as one of the young up and coming studs for the Warriors.
How often do we have to say it? He and Wiggins need to go and need to go THIS offseason.
There’s nothing promising about Moses Moody’s game that would get someone excited about his place on the team.
Only for Lauri though. Keep them otherwise.
I still laugh at my “GSW acquire Lauri and LaVine” megadeal post is still feasible! Very likely won’t happen but its funny how its still plausible. The money and players all match up! Ahh…
Curry is unhappy about Warriors not pulling the trigger on PG13 or even Markannen. He’s also eligible for extension and wants to make sure Warriors are committed to winning short term. Lacob doesnt want to pay luxury tax for bottom feeding team and there’s the dilemma. Maybe both sides will wait til mid season to see how the youngsters and the team play before deciding the fate of Curry and the direction. Trading Curry is no longer the unthinkable.
There is not much more the warriors could do in those 2 trades. Clippers didn’t want to trade with warriors and Ainge wants a team to way over pay for Lauri.
It’s painful but it’s time to go FULL rebuild.
Naw LOL
How can you go full rebuild when you have 6 under-24 potential rotation options already, with Curry and Dray still in top form?
Its never going to get to that level. If Kuminga takes another step he becomes an all-star in this league.
You would have a point if there werent all these young studs here…
6 is a exaggeration. Beekman needs to develop a offense game. Post needs to get a defensive game. Moody needs to be more than a bench player. Wiggins is still young but needs to play at a high level again. Santos is another young player that I rate over Moody. Santos is on a good Olympic team at 22.
Beekman doesn’t necessarily need to have a huge offensive game if he already is an A+ defender, B+ ball handler and B+ offensive-runner. I would kill to see what a Post-Draymond-Kuminga-Beekman-Curry lineup would do this season.
Post doesn’t need a defensive game if he’s instant buckets on the other end, but also we disagree at where he’s at defenively, I don’t think he’s a negative there after watching his BC tapes. All he -really- needs to do next year is go bodies on bigs like Joker and Giannis anyway, and use that movement on the defensive end.
You say these guys “need to” but Podz also needed to do all those things to his game, and he did, at a younger age. Post being 24 really means its now or never for him, you speak as if he’s Wiseman or a raw 18 year old, not a 4 year college starter.
Beekman looked great in person for the two games he played in at Chase – absolutely loved his defensive energy and the other players were lifted by it…he also looked like an old school point guard and worked downhill….very little wasted motion.
Post looked like a great teammate on the bench during that stretch of games, even though he was in street clothes. He was jumping up and down all game cheering on his teammates – seems like a solid guy and I agree with his BC highlights…plus he had great minutes in Vegas.
I am sure it’s been mentioned elsewhere, and I will say it again that Anthony Veneer was such a great choice to coach this summer team…Kerr is in such elite air, he just can’t relate to the youth, yet Kerr is still a genius picking coaches that can. There has been a huge hole since Mike Brown left, and now with Atkinson moving on there are new opportunities. Coach Veneer is such a remarkable leader – tough, positive, and has played pro ball all over the world – I really think his connection to these guys after summer league will pay dividends. Coach Kris Weems is also someone that can relate and was a great choice as well.
I am excited about this season…may not win 50 games, but the effort on defense will be something we haven’t seen since 2022. Giving up 40 points in a quarter should be a rare event, not just another Tuesday or Friday lol.
Coach Anthony Vereen – my bad for the misspell!
Not unless a boatload of injuries plague other West teams this season ….. Warriors will be relegated to fighting for a play-in spot, again.
Unfortunately I think you’re right but if the stars align right I think they could win a round Maybe two.
Yeah who knows … injuries happen. BOS got a pretty easy ride to the finals this past year with all the injuries, the seeding, etc.
Bummer we missed out on DEN-BOS two years in a row, but Nuggets barely ever leading Lakers – and barely beating them in half of their wins(?) – was an ominous sign.
Disagree, this is a top 6 squad right now, and an easy WCF appearance if they get Lauri.
Agreed… This Warriors team just doesn’t have it on paper… Maybe if Heild has a stellar defensive season and one of the young players has an All star level season…
But it’s hard to see this team as anything more than a play in chance…
Yes and especially now that a couple of young teams are upper echelon contenders. Look out for OKC and Minnesota as they grow together and the young guys begin to figure it out. Going as far as they did in the playoffs will only help build on their confidence and performance.
Warriors are fortunate to get a couple veterans to sign up and help them fight for a play in slot.
Once the old vet contract expire in 3 years the warriors will be one of those top teams in the west again. That is why they should not trade their young players unless they don’t fit the team.
Bottom line, you guys: The Chef absolutely needs a consistent second option on offense. The way the Warriors roster is currently constructed, it is extremely difficult to determine if he will have that – Kuminga is close, but he is STILL by no means a lock for that role. So……in hindsight…..is it safe to say that The Chef has played the last five seasons (four if you wanna throw out 2020 when he missed a ton of time) WITHOUT a CONSISTENTLY reliable scoring partner?? That’s a pretty long stretch, isn’t it??!
With that texted, if anyone is feeling up to it: how bout a real quick research assignment for me……..the point of this research and hypothesis I am posing: has The Chef done the most with the least offensive help? Quite possibly!
1. Take the last four seasons (2021-2024)
2. Take maybe 5-10 consensus all-time great players of this era (avoid same-team overlaps)…..so LeBron, Curry, KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic, Tatum – I guess. That’s a pretty good list, right?
3. For each of these individuals, find out who was their second scoring option each of the past four seasons, and what was his PPG (and maybe games played too).
4. Finally, for each of the 7 individuals I listed in #2, tell me what their team W-L record was for each of the past four seasons (playoff record included).
For #3: perhaps it would make more sense to look at each player’s TOTAL POINTS SCORED (not their scoring average) to go along with his GAMES PLAYED.