Stephen Curry wants to end career with Warriors, but not as ‘bottom feeder’

Stephen Curry wants to end career with Warriors, but not as ‘bottom feeder’

Last offseason, the Golden State Warriors kept their “big three” intact by re-signing forward Draymond Green to a brand new four-year deal in practically the first minute of free agency.

Though the 2023-24 season, as well as more punitive levies on the new CBA, changed the course of action. From ongoing contract negotiations to a new role, Klay Thompson‘s season did not go to plan, eventually leaving for the Dallas Mavericks earlier this offseason.

Green and franchise icon Stephen Curry still remain. In a recent interview with Marc Spears, Curry reinforced his desire to finish his illustrious career with the only franchise he’s known, though expressed a specific caveat that could prompt him to leave.

“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 reimagining 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.

The Warriors, who finished as the No. 10 seed at 46-36 a year ago, added Kyle Anderson, De’Anthony Melton and sharpshooter Buddy Hield to the fold in the offseason. They are hard-capped below the $178 million first apron, and are still a couple of tiers below the true contenders in the West. Though they can still be scrappy–should both Curry and Green stay healthy (and, in the latter’s case, out of trouble).

Buddy Hield does not feel pressure replacing Klay Thompson

Two years removed from a title, Golden State still doesn’t have a bad roster–especially with potential leaps from Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, who the brass is very high on.

However, outside of the Clippers and Lakers, most of the top-11/12 in the West has gotten better. It’s going to be hard to replicate a 46-win season, but never say never. I don’t think the Warriors will ever try to tank with Stephen Curry on their roster, barring something drastic–similar to 2019-20. It’s going to be a tough trek to contend, but I also don’t see them being at the bottom of the West heading into 2024-25.

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