The Golden State Warriors built a superteam in the later 2010s that had the rest of the league defeated before a ball was picked up. Although injuries got to them in their final season with Kevin Durant, the first two years after they added the former MVP to a 73-9 team were cakewalks. The Warriors had a core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, with Andre Iguodala also a star in his own right.
This team was incredible, no other NBA franchise has come close to having 5 All-Star caliber players, including two perennial MVP candidates on the same team. Understandably, they won back-to-back NBA championships. And people often wonder exactly how this all panned out, if nothing else, being able to pay so many top players at the time should have been impossible.
The Stephen Curry Decision That Allowed The Golden State Warriors To Build Their Superteam
Stephen Curry is the greatest Warrior of all time. His contributions to the organization and his loyalty are both unparalleled. But even outside all of his legendary performances on the court, Curry decided to sign a contract that changed the game for the Warriors. In 2013, a Curry that had struggled with injuries signed a 4-year, $44 million deal with the Dubs. And speaking to Draymond Green, the two broke down just how much that helped him, as well as the franchise.
(starts at 29:05 minutes):
Draymond Green: “So you signed a 4 (year), 44 (million) and everyone was kind of signing that same deal. A year later, it was the worst deal in pro sports history. If you’re making 11 million dollars a year, you should be making 25 million dollars a year. But in the same token, if you don’t sign the $44 million deal, the Warriors decide on whether they’re gonna keep me or Klay. The Warriors are never able to sign Andre. And then in hindsight, fast forward a couple of years later, also not able to sign KD as well.”
Stephen Curry: “It sounds so freaking cheesy and cliche cuz I’m talking about it right now but like this is exactly how I thought. That one thing I had to just tell myself. Like one, that’s good money, let’s just focus on that. Not what you leaving on the table, what you could have made and then don’t count anybody else’s money. Try to set that foundation for my mindset right then and there and never come back to that moment like, ‘Oh I should, could or would’, cuz that’s not how life works.”
There aren’t many players that would take a deal like that if they knew they were even half as good as Stephen Curry. But the way it paid off for him was immense. The Warriors’ flexibility allowed them to build a dynasty and help Curry add to his legacy. And Steph got his payday afterward too, his next deal was over $200 million, which is an incredible amount when broken down.
