Stephen Curry is already rewriting the record book before the 2026-27 NBA season even begins.
The Warriors star has agreed to a two-year, $116 million contract extension with Golden State that includes a player option in 2028-29, according to ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania. Charania also reported via Bobby Marks that Curry left $20 million on the table by not taking the maximum salary.
That decision comes with a historic payoff. Marks reported that Curry has become the first NBA player ever to surpass $600 million in on-court earnings. He is set to enter his 18th season in 2026 with the Warriors.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the closest names in the chase, with Marks putting James at $598 million and Durant at $592 million.
Curry’s place in league history is already secure anyway. He owns four championship rings, two MVP awards and 12 All-Star selections, and he still remains one of the NBA’s biggest draws.
Golden State, though, is coming off a rough finish. The Warriors missed the playoffs last season after losing to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Play-In Tournament’s No. 8 seed elimination game.
Curry’s decision to take less than the maximum also gives the Warriors more salary-cap room to work with next summer. Golden State is no longer living in the glow of its dynasty years, but the roster still has pieces to build around, including Jimmy Butler returning from injury and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
That flexibility could open the door to free-agent pursuits or trade talks next summer. The Warriors had already been tied to speculation about a possible Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and even the idea of signing LeBron James this offseason.
For now, the Western Conference looks loaded again. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are among the teams standing near the top, while several others have added notable talent.
The Minnesota Timberwolves paired former Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball with Anthony Edwards in the backcourt, the Portland Trail Blazers added Ja Morant to a group that will feature Damian Lillard as he returns from a season-long injury recovery, and the Los Angeles Lakers brought in Walker Kessler through a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz to bolster the frontcourt around Luka Doncic.
Golden State opens preseason on Sunday, Oct. 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers, then begins the regular season at the Lakers on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
In Other News...
Warriors Just Sent A Clear Message About Lajae Jones
Lajae Jones is already getting a head start on the next stage of his career, and it comes overseas rather than in a Warriors camp. Golden States 54th overall pick signed with Italian club Pallacanestro Trieste after four years of college basketball, then opened his professional career by logging 19 minutes and scoring 10 points in his debut.
For the Warriors, the move says plenty about how they are sorting out their recent second-round picks. Jones was not brought to training camp, while the team has kept Alex Toohey in the development pipeline and expects him to spend time with the Santa Cruz roster. It leaves Jones to build his resume in Italy, while Golden State makes clear which young player it wants closest to its system for now. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Took A Real Risk On Al Horford For One Reason
The Warriors are clearly betting that Al Horfords value still outweighs the risk attached to his medical file. Golden State signed the veteran center to a two-year contract with a second-year player option, a move that signals both respect for what he can still provide and an understanding that his availability has been a concern. Horford missed a significant stretch last season, but he arrives to camp with the kind of reputation that can make a team overlook some of the baggage, especially when the front office believes he fits what they need.
What makes the gamble more interesting is the confidence inside the building. Horford is reported to be in excellent shape entering training camp, and the Warriors medical staff seems comfortable enough with where he is physically to move forward without hesitation. For Golden State, the logic is straightforward: if Horford stays upright, he can help in ways few available bigs can, and the team is willing to live with the uncertainty because the upside is real. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Camp Battle Next To Draymond Just Got More Intriguing
Training camp in Hawaii brings a familiar kind of Warriors intrigue, and this year it starts with the frontcourt rotation. With Draymond Green set to anchor the unit, the staff is sorting through a young forward group that includes Yaxel Lendeborg and Gui Santos, two players who have both drawn attention in camp work. Green came away impressed after minicamp, and the early signs suggest Golden State has more than one option to consider as it tries to settle the shape of its starting group.
The front line is only part of the equation, either. The Warriors still have two starting spots in play, and the backcourt picture is also unsettled with Brandin Podziemski and De'Anthony Melton competing at shooting guard. For a team that has leaned on continuity in the past, this camp is shaping up as one of those early stretches where the rotation can change quickly, especially if one of the younger forwards keeps building on what the coaches have already seen. [Read more 🡒]