Stephen Curry’s new deal was supposed to lock in the end of his Warriors story. Instead, it’s already raising an uncomfortable question Golden State would rather not answer: how often can he actually be on the floor?
Curry signed a two-year, $116 million contract extension with the Warriors in the offseason, a move that signaled he’ll finish his career in Golden State and play into his forties. That kind of commitment is easy to celebrate, especially for the greatest player in franchise history. But with Curry now 38, availability is the issue hovering over everything.
He was already battling a frustrating knee injury to close last season, missing 27 straight games and appearing in only 43 total. Less than a week into this season, he’s already had to sit. Curry missed Saturday night’s 131-122 loss to the Phoenix Suns on the second night of a back-to-back.
And that wasn’t a game the Warriors had to treat as a lost cause. Golden State was competitive against a Suns team described as less than impressive, even without Curry, Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski and Al Horford. The Warriors also continue to be without Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody.
That’s the real problem. Resting Curry is one thing. Doing it this early, while also juggling a pile of injuries, only underscores how thin the Warriors are and how hard it may be for them to stay in the playoff hunt.
Golden State has to protect Curry, no doubt about it. But the pattern could get more restrictive from here.
At some point, the question becomes whether he’ll even be considered for both ends of back-to-backs. Based on the fact he sat for the third game of the season, that point may already be here.
The deeper concern is the roster around him. A $60 million player missing games is a challenge anywhere, but it becomes far more dangerous when there’s no real cushion behind him. Golden State doesn’t have the depth to absorb repeated Curry absences without feeling it immediately.
Other teams can survive this better. Joel Embiid and LeBron James have already rested alternate games for the Philadelphia 76ers in back-to-backs, and the 76ers have enough talent to stay competitive without one of their veterans. LeBron only makes the minimum, which changes the equation too.
For the Warriors, though, the math is uglier. If Curry is going to need regular rest, the value of that extension starts to look different very quickly.
Maybe that doesn’t matter. Maybe it was simply about taking care of Curry and rewarding everything he’s already given the franchise.
But the concern is right there, and it’s not going away.
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