Getty

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry reacts during a game as he reflects on a challenging, injury-impacted 17th NBA season.

The Golden State Warriors have already locked in one of their vital franchise pieces in Steve Kerr to a new contract. The head coach signed a new two-year contract extension early last week. 

Now, all eyes turn to another vital franchise piece, Stephen Curry, and his own potential extension talks this summer. 

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is clear about the team’s intentions regarding their franchise cornerstone.

“We’ve always stated we want Steph to finish his career here and be here for as long as he wants,” Dunleavy said Friday in a press conference. “So I am sure those conversations will happen and you can predict where he is going. But I don’t see under any scenario where we don’t want to figure out a way to have him finish here.”

Curry, who turned 38 in March, remains the longest active one-team player in the NBA. Since being drafted by Golden State in 2009, he has never played basketball anywhere other than the Bay Area. 

He will remain for at least next season as he is signed through that following an extension in 2024. But whether he will entertain further discussions beyond one year remains to be seen. 

Loyalty at What Cost For Stephen Curry?

The Warriors had a shambolic season and that is putting it mildly. A No. 10 seed finish and play-in exit compounded the woes of a below-average season.

GettySteve Kerr’s contract with the Golden State Warriors expired at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Curry himself missed a chunk of games due to injury and his offensive partner in Jimmy Butler was ruled out for the season after suffering an ACL injury in January. It wasn’t rocket science that Golden State dropped without those two. 

At 38, Curry is not getting any younger, and managing an aging body has become part of the new normal. But when healthy, he is still Golden State’s best shot at competing. But there is a large gap in the team between any contention hopes and reality. 

This season tested Curry’s patience as well as Kerr and it seems as though the latter would coach his final season in the Bay Area. However, the front office wanted continuity with the man who made the franchise what it is today.  

Kerr’s decision is down loyalty and that will be Curry’s own motivation to remain beyond next season. 

What the Warriors Must Do to Keep Star Motivated

GettyHead coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors interacts with Stephen Curry.

The Warriors have been preaching a win-now window for the past couple of years or thereabouts. The move to acquire Butler was a statement in that sense and on the deadline, they traded young pieces like Jonathan Kuminga for Kristaps Porzingis.

There is no sugarcoating it, it hasn’t worked yet and the key to keeping Curry at this age is to surround him with pieces to compete at the highest level and not be forced to while away his final years in the league.

One high-profile name that has been speculated is Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. According to reports, the Warriors have indicated that they plan to add a big-name star to the roster which was a big reason Kerr signed. 

Golden State will reportedly explore bold moves to pair Antetokounmpo with Curry. But it will be a big ask for a trade to happen. There is still trust between Curry and the front office but results will have to show to keep that loyalty.