Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy expressed confidence in Stephen Curry’s future with the franchise.
SAN FRANCISCO – With Stephen Curry set to be extension eligible in less than three weeks, Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy expressed confidence that the franchise cornerstone will finish his storied career in the Bay Area.
“Not to me. No, he hasn’t [said otherwise],” Dunleavy said to a handful of reporters on a virtual press conference. “That’s always been the message. That’s always been sort of what we discussed, and I think that’s tracking quite well. Obviously, he’s eligible for an extension coming up at the end of this month, and we’ll talk through all that stuff and can’t speak on it much right now. But I’m pretty confident Steph will finish his career here.”
It’s an almost inconceivable question that Dunleavy had to answer. After all, Curry is the Warrior at the heart of the Golden State Warriors. He’s Mr. Warrior. He’s the guy who delivered an impoverished fanbase and franchise four banners and a decade of NBA dominance. And for all intents and purposes, Curry’s maintained the importance of being a Warrior for life.
But after a quiet offseason that’s garnered angst in the fanbase and speculation from pundits in the league, the question of Curry’s future has become somewhat conceivable.
After striking out in the LeBron James sweepstakes, the Warriors re-signed Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II to short-term deals. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and late-season flyer Charles Bassey will be the only meaningful differences. Essentially, returning a roster that only won 37 games and missed the playoffs.
The understanding is that both sides want to continue their relationship with each other. At 38-years-old, Curry enters the 2026-2027 NBA season on an expiring $62.5 million contract and becomes eligible on August 29th for an extension of up to two years and $136.7 million. That’s a deal that makes sense for both Curry and the Warriors, regardless of championship aspirations.
But Dunleavy did say it’s up to the future Hall of Famer to decide what he wants to do.
“Ultimately, it’s his call, his decision, whether that’s allowing his contract to run out and move on,” Dunleavy said. “Look, if he comes to me and wants to be moved, [controlling owner] Joe [Lacob] and I will talk it through. We wouldn’t love it. But he’s earned the right to do what he wants. But as far as the messaging or any idea that he’d be anywhere else, that’s not a thing we’re looking at or he’s looking at.”
Curry’s two end-of-career desires at war on the Warriors
What Curry’s future comes down to is his two desires: wanting to win and wanting to retire a Warrior.
Curry’s long said he wants to be remembered in the same air as Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Dirk Novitski– legends who spent their entire careers in one jersey. That means something to him. But he’s also maintained that a fifth ring, which would vault him into some truly special company, “is the only thing” he’s still playing for. Playing “meaningful” basketball also means something to him.
“I think there’s two things I’m confident about with Steph: He really wants to win, and he wants to finish his career as a Warrior,” Dunleavy said when asked what makes him confident Golden State can get something lined up with him after this season. “And I don’t think that changes tomorrow, August 29th, the start of the season, middle of the season, the end of next season. I think that those things are going to be consistent.”
But facing hard truths here, those two desires are inherently at war with each other because the Warriors are not positioned to seriously contend.
Even squinting at the possibility of what Porzingis, Horford, and Melton can be if they stay healthy, of what Green still has left to give at 36, of what leaps Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg could take, of what Curry himself can do coming off a long bout with runner’s knee, the ceiling of the Warriors still isn’t scratching the likes of the Thunder or the Spurs.
Which comes back to the question of why Curry’s future isn’t exactly stable.
Yes, there’s a foundation. Yes, there’s something sacred about the opportunity to be a one-franchise lifer. And yes, Dunleavy maintained they have the flexibility and the war chest to pursue a game-changer midseason. But none of that satisfies Curry’s desire to win.
Thus, for Curry to find peace in this final chapter of his career, he may have to sacrifice one of his two desires. Because, as of right now, contending for a title and retiring as a one-franchise lifer are mutually exclusive items.
SAN FRANCISCO – With Stephen Curry set to be extension eligible in less than three weeks, Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy expressed confidence that the franchise cornerstone will finish his storied career in the Bay Area. “Not to me. No, he hasn’t [said otherwise],” Dunleavy said to a handful of reporters on a virtual press conference.