Warriors Star Curry Leaves Nearly $20 Million On The Table to Keep Playing In San Francisco
Curry signs 2-year deal worth $116M but takes a cut to stay with the team he loves
The number that matters most to the Golden State Warriors fanbase right now is $116 million. Stephen Curry has put any possible doubts about his future with the franchise to bed. With just three days before the new season begins, Curry has reportedly agreed to a two-year extension. The Golden State Warriors announced the deal on Friday night shortly after a report from ESPN's Shams Charania.
Curry is taking a discount to remain with the only team he has ever known. He is set to make a little more than $62.5 million in the upcoming season. This amount represents a significant financial decision on his part. He could have signed for as much as $136.7 million if he had pursued every last dollar. The average salary for the two new contract years is $58 million. This figure is a lot of money, but it means Curry is leaving more than $20 million on the table with the two new seasons.
The contract details provide clarity for the upcoming years. The extension will start in the 2027-28 season. There is a player option for the 2028-29 season. This structure gives the team flexibility while ensuring Curry remains with the squad. If Curry plays out the 2028-29 season with Golden State, that will be his 20th season with the franchise. This accomplishment would make him just the fourth player in NBA history to play 20 or more seasons with a single franchise. The others on this prestigious list include Dirk Nowitzki's 21 seasons with the Mavericks, Kobe Bryant's 20 seasons with the Lakers, and Udonis Haslem's 20 seasons with the Heat.
Curry was first eligible to sign an extension on Aug 29. In the four weeks since then, the lack of any signing led Curry to get asked repeatedly about his contract desires. It did not matter that Curry told anyone and everyone who asked that his intention was to stay in the Golden State and be a one-franchise player. As long as Curry did not sign the new deal, he was going to get asked about it. The speculation about why he had not signed was only going to get louder. Now, with the new NBA season kicking off with training camps next week, Curry can avoid all of those questions and simply focus on basketball.
“We couldn’t be more excited about reaching an agreement with Stephen and extending his historic career with the Warriors,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said in the team's announcement. “Personally, I don’t think there has ever been a better face to a franchise in professional sports history, both on and off the court, than Stephen Curry with the Warriors. He embodies everything this organization strives to represent through his legendary play on the court, his unique leadership and sacrifice, and his unmatched impact in the community. We’ve been incredibly blessed to experience 17 years of Stephen’s artistry and are thrilled that our fans will continue to have the opportunity to watch him perform and write additional chapters to his illustrious story.”
The Warriors are preparing to kick off the new season with a busy schedule. The team is hosting a Media Day in San Francisco on Monday. They will then fly to Hawaii for a week of training camp practices on Oahu. This training camp will conclude with a preseason game against the LA Clippers.
First reported by SFGATE.
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