What a message Steph’s extension sends to Warriors, via Windhorst originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The contract extension of the Warriors of Steph Curry engendered optimism within and outside the organization.
The 10-time NBA All-Star’s commitment to Golden State through the 2026-27 season is a promising sign for the Warriors, who missed the 2024 NBA playoffs after an underwhelming season.
Curry will be 37 during the upcoming campaign and 39 when his new contract expires; there is no time to lose. The fact that Curry wants to stay with Golden State as he — if he ever does — leaves his prime, ESPN’s Brian Widnhorst convinced No. 30 and the Warriors are on an upward trajectory, which the analyst explained Friday in “First Take “. “
“I never believed any of the hype [about] the chance of him being anywhere but Golden State,” Windhorst said. “Here he is only supporting what he has always said: that he wants to be a Soldier for life. And let’s be honest, this is a vote of confidence in the direction of the Warriors.
“He didn’t have to sign this now. Next year, he would be allowed to sign for two years. To do this now is to say, ‘Hey, I respect what we’re doing as an organization, and let’s change it up a little bit and try to keep getting better.'”
.@WindhorstESPN says Steph Curry’s extension is “a vote of confidence in the direction of the Warriors” 📈
“Here he is just standing by what he’s always said, which is that he wants to be a Warrior for life.” pic.twitter.com/jbrBCRGPSj
— First Take (@FirstTake) 30 August 2024
The Warriors were worthy of the final NBA Play-In Tournament berth at 44-38 last year, and the young, star-driven Western Conference is getting stronger.
Curry, rightfully so, could wait to sign a longer extension with Golden State or test the NBA free-agency waters. After all, his longtime trainer, Steve Kerr, is in the books through the 2025-26 season, and his long-time teammate, Draymond Green, has a player option for the 2026-27 season.
However, the Team USA icon signed a one-year extension worth $62.6 million stay in the Bay.
While Curry’s extension brings safety, Golden State still is in no shape to fight for an NBA Championship in 2024-25 — especially without longtime wing Klay Thompson, who shockingly signed with the Dallas Mavericks this offseason.
But Windhorst believes that, in addition to Curry’s contract extension, something else is reason for confidence in the future of the Warriors.
“The Warriors are not going to win a championship this year, as currently constructed,” Windhorst stated. “But one thing the Warriors have really done since last winter is big hunting. In one of the strangest stories of the last year in all of sports — if you ask me — the Warriors tried trade for LeBron James at February [NBA] trade deadline.
“Now, it got nowhere, but that was interesting. Then, over the summer, they tried to trade for Paul Geroge… They tried to trade for Lauri Markkanen… So, they’re absolutely big-game. Big game hunting and big game landing are two different things. But they have the ability to look at other moves as we move forward here.”
Golden State has struck out several superstars in the last six months.
However, massive attempts to improve the roster prove that Warriors owner Joe Lacob and president of basketball operations Mike Dunleavy are trying to win big.
As Widnhorst stated, Golden State is not positioned to contend this fall. But the potential among youngsters Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis attracts Windhorst. In addition, the acquisitions of the Warriors of role players Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton do not hurt.
“Let’s see how this season goes,” Windhorst concluded. “They went and added some players [and] they have some young players. This is a team to look forward to, transactionally. And Steph Curry signing that contract is his belief that this organization still has good days ahead.”
The Warriors are primed to be a team in waiting in 2024-25. Obviously, with Curry, anything is possible.
But the four-time champion’s extension indicates that Golden State isn’t just focused on its upcoming campaign. The Warriors are investing in their cornerstone and future.
