The Golden State Warriors are years removed from their latest title run, and there’s real concern that Stephen Curry may never win another ring before he retires. As a four-time champion and four-time MVP, Steph has nothing left to prove in the NBA, but the Warriors still feel obligated to help him chase that fifth title.
So when they came up empty on all the top free agents this summer, it raised many questions about their future with Curry and the rest of their iconic veteran core. It won’t be until August 29th that Curry can settle those doubts with a new extension, but there is no question that he is committed to seeing this through until the end, despite the ongoing struggles. One consolation is the returning health of Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, who should help tip the scales in the Warriors’ favor.
“The through line,” Curry told The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II, “which is hard on anybody in this situation, especially with us keeping this thing together, is knowing that when Jimmy (Butler) got hurt, and Moses got hurt, the whole calculus of everything changes. How do you get through their absence and still stay at a certain level? And then how that goes into this year. It’s the same deal. So, I’m a realist on that.”
The Warriors initially planned to land a star like LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they had to settle on running it back with Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis, and Gary Payton II instead. On paper, they cannot compete with the likes of the Thunder, Spurs, or Nuggets in the West, but Steph believes there is still a path to being competitive. The key for GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. is making moves that can upgrade the roster now without sacrificing long-term flexibility.
“I think honestly, you figure it out in real time,” Curry added. “Because the same way we got to this point, there’s not a crystal ball that tells you what opportunities are on the horizon, how to maintain competitiveness with everything that goes on during an NBA season, injuries, all that type of stuff. But I do know there’s a level of reasonability in terms of moves or options or opportunities that can help us stay competitive now but don’t handcuff the next five, seven years of our team. So, everything that’s happened to date has been with that as the mindset.”
While the Warriors remain committed to Steph, they are actively planning for his eventual retirement. At 38, Steph might only have a few years left, which is why it’s imperative both he and the Warriors stay patient and wait for the right opportunity. Curry knows as much as anyone how hard the road can be, and it will take a borderline miracle for everything to come together again.
Still, there is hope that guys like Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody can provide a much-needed spark on the wing. There’s also strong faith that Kristaps Porzingis can elevate his game to become that No. 2 scoring option. However, this next season plays out, Curry isn’t ready to give up now, and we can expect his best going forward after averaging 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 46.8% shooting from the field in 2025-26.
