Stephen Curry has signed the inevitable extension with the Golden State Warriors, one that will likely be the final contract of his illustrious career. So, let’s talk about the good and the bad.
Last month, we wrote about how the Warriors were failing Stephen Curry, and I continue to stand by that. Golden State has failed to put a legitimate championship-caliber roster around one of the greatest players in NBA history during the final years of his career. But that doesn’t mean I disagree with Curry’s decision to stay.
The Good: Steph Belongs in Golden State
Curry is one of the few superstars in today’s NBA landscape who appears destined to spend his entire career with the team that drafted him, and good for him. Honestly, Stephen Curry would look strange in any other jersey.
Golden State took a chance on Curry when there were legitimate concerns about whether his ankles would hold up long enough for him to reach his potential. Curry rewarded that faith by becoming the greatest shooter in NBA history and building a dynasty. Four championships, two MVPs, a Finals MVP and the NBA’s all-time three-point record. The Warriors believed in Curry, and Curry completely transformed the Warriors.
There is something special about seeing a superstar spend his entire career with one franchise, especially in an era where player movement has become so common. If this really is Curry’s final NBA contract, seeing him finish his career in the same jersey he started it in just feels right.
The Bad: This Isn’t a Championship Team
Now comes the unfortunate reality: the Warriors have zero shot of winning big this season.
And I mean zero.
I don’t consider this team a top-five team in the Western Conference, let alone one of the five best teams in the entire NBA. That’s the frustrating part of Curry committing the remainder of his career to Golden State.
This isn’t about Steph. Steph is Steph. I have Stephen Curry ranked as the ninth-greatest player in NBA history, and he is still going to hit ridiculous threes, take over games and give Golden State nights where he reminds everyone exactly who he is.
But how far can he realistically carry this roster?
I don’t believe the Warriors have done nearly enough to transform themselves into a legitimate championship contender. That’s why this contract feels less like the beginning of one final championship run and more like an agreement between two sides that simply don’t want to leave each other.
And honestly, that’s okay.
Not every contract has to be about chasing another championship. Stephen Curry has already given Golden State four of them. At this stage, this extension feels like loyalty going both ways. The Warriors are staying loyal to the greatest player in franchise history, and Curry is staying loyal to the organization that drafted him, believed in him when injuries threatened his career and gave him the platform to build one of the greatest careers basketball has ever seen.
Would Curry have a better chance of winning another championship somewhere else? Probably. But seeing Stephen Curry wearing another jersey would just feel wrong.
This extension isn’t really about another championship. It’s about Stephen Curry being a Warrior for life.
And there is nothing wrong with that.
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