Stephen Curry didn’t sound disappointed so much as he sounded like a friend respecting another star’s process.
With LeBron James choosing the Philadelphia surprise instead of a move to the Golden State Warriors, Curry described the conversations between the two as part of a bigger, personal back-and-forth - the kind that might happen when two of the game’s biggest names are weighing the next stop in their careers.
“I thought there was a conversation,” Curry said, per HoopsHype. “And if there was ever some momentum, it would be known based on the profile LeBron has.
And if he picks up the phone and says, ‘Hey, what’s going on out there?’ or vice versa, and I pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey, what’s on your mind?’
that would be in the conversation for a guy like that who’s picking his landing spot.”
Curry made it clear that he and James do have a strong friendship, and that their relationship naturally fueled the idea that Golden State could be the destination. That hope was real around the Warriors, especially with the team needing help on both ends of the floor.
Still, Curry said James handled the process the way he wanted to handle it.
“But as you know, the way he went about it, taking his time and being patient, and the surprise of Philly, kind of, he was going to run his own journey that way,” the Warriors guard added. “And he deserves to do that, and as a friend an Olympic teammate and all that, I’m happy for him that he found somewhere he wants to be.”
For a while, the Curry-James connection looked like the kind of factor that could tilt things toward Golden State, at least according to the chatter leading up to the decision. But there were other basketball considerations in play, too, and James may have simply decided he didn’t want to place himself in a situation that might limit his shot at adding more rings to his career total.
In Other News...
Steve Kerr Sends Warriors Fans A Tough Steph Curry Reality
Steve Kerr is asking Warriors fans to adjust their expectations early this season, and the reason is simple: the team is taking Steph Currys workload seriously. With Curry dealing with right knee issues and the grind of back-to-backs and long road trips looming, Golden State has already been cautious about how much he practices and how many minutes he logs in preseason games.
Kerrs message to fans was blunt enough to carry real weight for anyone planning a night at Chase Center or on the road. He urged supporters to check the schedule before buying tickets, because Curry and some of the other veterans could miss certain games as the Warriors try to protect their legs for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Trade Buzz Raises A Bigger Deadline Concern
The trade chatter around Zion Williamson has only added to the sense that Golden State is weighing something bigger than a simple deadline tweak. Williamsons recent health and performance make him a fascinating name to monitor, but the more immediate issue for the Warriors remains the same one that has hovered over the roster for months: they still need help at center, and that has a way of shaping every other conversation they have about upgrades.
Trey Murphy III has also surfaced as part of the broader speculation, which only underscores how many different directions the Warriors could go if they decide to be aggressive. For a team trying to balance present-day urgency with the realities of what it would cost to reshape the rotation, the deadline is starting to look less like a chance to add one piece and more like a decision point about which need matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Kerr Just Left One Warriors Roster Door Open
Steve Kerr made it sound like the Warriors are close to settling their opening-night group, with Georges Niang, Charles Bassey and Brandon Williams all expected to stick after arriving on non-guaranteed contracts. Even so, Kerr stopped short of calling the roster finished, which matters in a week when teams are still sorting out the final edges of camp and Golden State does not have much room to maneuver if it wants to make a late change.
The more interesting wrinkle is that the door is not entirely closed, especially with Kristaps Porzingis still a question because of health concerns. The Warriors have limited trade-eligible pieces, so any adjustment would likely have to be carefully constructed rather than impulsive, but the uncertainty around the frontcourt means the final version of the roster may not be locked in just yet. [Read more 🡒]