Stephen Curry says the contract clock with the Warriors isn’t going to seep into his game.
As he heads into his 18th season, the 38-year-old said the ongoing extension talks with Golden State will be handled on their own timetable, not as a distraction once the season starts.
"It's going to happen at the right time, once I have all the information I need to make the decision that is right," Curry told ESPN's Anthony Slater on Wednesday. "The team's been great having that conversation back and forth.
If I don't sign, it won't affect me in terms of my play or carrying that weight. But I'll make the decision when I'm ready."
Curry is already on the books for one more year after signing a one-year, $62.6-million extension with Golden State in August 2024. That deal runs out after the coming season, and he is now eligible for another extension worth as much as $136.7 million over two years. Even so, the two-time MVP and four-time NBA champion still hasn’t locked in a new agreement with the team that drafted him seventh overall in 2009.
He made it clear he doesn’t want the situation turning into a sideshow.
"I don't want there to be no drama," Curry said. "No talking points. This team should be competitive and go win."
According to reports, the Warriors and Curry have gone over several contract setups that could give him what he wants while still leaving Golden State with some financial wiggle room. That flexibility could matter even more with Jimmy Butler still working back from his ACL tear after what was described as an unusually quiet Warriors offseason.
That, in turn, could leave the franchise with more ways to reshape the roster around Curry next summer.
"This team should have flexibility to make necessary moves if things happen," the 12-time All-Star said. "Those are always just the considerations.
"For me, information and patience is key. It's just a very unique situation all the way around based on where we've been the last four years, where I'm at in my career, what our team looks like this year, and the absolute desperation to win. Trying to balance all that."
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Warriors Trade Buzz Around Karl-Anthony Towns Comes With One Awkward Catch
Karl-Anthony Towns has already emerged as one of the bigger names to watch as the Knicks weigh their next move, and the Warriors are said to be among the teams paying close attention. Towns holds a $61 million player option and could choose free agency next summer, which gives New York a reason to think about acting before the situation gets even more complicated. From Golden States side, the appeal is obvious: Towns is a high-end talent who could reshape the frontcourt picture if the right deal materializes.
The catch is in the mechanics, because any serious pursuit would have to navigate a tricky trade market while Towns is still seeking a max extension from the Knicks. Jimmy Butlers expiring contract and draft capital would likely be part of the framework, even as he works back from a torn ACL and is expected to return early next year. There is also a little basketball irony baked into the whole thing, given the shared history involved, which only makes the possibility feel even more layered as the offseason conversation develops. [Read more 🡒]
Buddy Hield Just Got An Unexpected Opening With The Hornets
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Charlotte said Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams will sit out all of preseason with hamstring injuries and will be re-evaluated in the first week of the regular season. Knueppels absence, in particular, opens the door a little wider for Hield to work into the rotation, giving the Hornets another proven outside threat while they sort through an early-season lineup that is already missing pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Camp Opens With One Huge Question Around Their Season Outlook
The Warriors open training camp in Oahu on Oct. 3 with the usual mix of familiarity and uncertainty that has come to define this stage of their season. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are back in the fold, the roster has been mostly retained, and the front office sprinkled in veteran help with Brandon Williams and Georges Niang on minimum deals, while rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is expected to get a real chance to matter. Golden State will not have to wait long to see where it stands, either, with its first preseason game set for Oct. 4 against the Clippers in Hawaii.
The bigger question, though, is how much of this group will actually be available when camp gets rolling and how quickly the rotation can take shape before the NBA season opens Oct. 21. Curry is managing a knee issue, and there is no sense of urgency around his contract situation, which only adds to the feeling that the Warriors are entering camp with more to sort through than a typical contender. For a team still trying to balance its veteran core with a younger supporting cast, the first few days in Hawaii should reveal plenty about the shape of this season, even if the most important answers are still waiting to be found. [Read more 🡒]