Steph Curry signed a milestone extension this week, putting him in rarefied air with two other esteemed NBA superstars. Curry now begins life without his long-time running mate and splash brother, Klay Thompson. But Curry’s expressed dedication to the Warriors bodes well for the Warriors as he hopes to chase another ring.
Steph Curry Milestone Extension Cements Future in The Bay
Curry’s Extension All About Winning
Curry nabbed a one-year extension this week with the Golden State Warriors worth $62.6 million. Curry was drafted by the Warriors, won multiple titles with Golden State, and has never played elsewhere but with the Warriors. He has also expressed his desire to retire with Golden State, but it’s not his time just yet.
Curry’s extension points to his commitment to Golden State and vice versa.
“It’s still about winning,” Curry told The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II, “and taking the steps necessary to give ourselves a chance. The standard hasn’t changed. The expectation hasn’t changed.”
It would be quite the feat if the greatest shooter to ever play remained with the one club he was drafted by and accomplished so much with. That space is VIP-esque, boasting the likes of Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Dirk Nowitzki. Signing this extension most likely signifies an end to this summer’s murmurings that Curry may play elsewhere. Although those murmurings were quiet and lacked foundation, the Olympics further stoked those conversations. The idea of Curry and LeBron James playing together in the NBA is a nice venture into the realm of imagination. However, the chances of a team-up between the two future Hall of Famers are bleak and in vain.
Curry will end his NBA playing career as a Warrior—and that’s how it should be.
Surpassing $500 Million
Speaking of LeBron James, the milestone extension for Curry drops him into an exclusive space where only James and Kevin Durant reign. With his extension, Curry will eclipse $500 million in NBA earnings, positioning him second behind James in highest career earnings. James hit the $500 million mark earlier this summer when he signed a two-year max extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant will jump over $500 million when his contract with the Phoenix Suns is up in two years.
Curry will make $55.8 million this year, continuing his reign as the NBA’s highest-paid player for eight consecutive seasons. It is also estimated that Curry earns roughly $47 million off the court in endorsements with Chase, Under Armor, Nissan Motor, Infiniti, and Rakuten. Curry, Durant, and James share this category—three of the highest endorsement earnings for NBA players today.
Winning A Fifth Ring
As Curry stated, his milestone extension is all about winning as the Warriors head into the 2024-25 season. Losing Klay Thompson was a hit both team-wise and emotionally for Curry. Yet, even with Thompson now gone, Curry still has faith in his team. Draymond Green remains, as does Andrew Wiggins, who was instrumental in Golden State’s 2022 championship run. Jonathan Kuminga progressed last year, and the Warriors believe in their younger contingent of second-year pieces. With Curry locked up one more year, it falls to the Warriors’ front office to surround Curry with everything he needs to bring one more championship to San Francisco.
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