Mike Dunleavy Jr. may believe Stephen Curry’s future is still tied to Golden State, but he also made one thing plain: if Curry ever asked out, the Warriors would not slam the door.
That admission lands awkwardly for a fan base already irritated by an offseason that did little to change the conversation around Curry’s future. The Warriors’ lack of activity has only fed the speculation, especially after their failed pursuit of LeBron James and a summer that, in the eyes of many, didn’t do much to maximize the Curry window.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Dunleavy said the franchise still expects Curry to finish his career in Golden State. But he also acknowledged that the final decision would belong to the 38-year-old if his thinking ever changed.
"Ultimately it's his call, his decision, whether that's allowing his contract to run out and move on. Look, if he comes to me and wants to be moved, (controlling owner) Joe (Lacob) and I will talk it through," Dunleavy said.
"We wouldn't love it. But he's earned the right to do what he wants.
But as far as the messaging or any idea that he'd be anywhere else, that's not a thing we're looking at or he's looking at."
The comment does nothing to quiet the noise around Curry’s future, especially with his contract set to expire. That alone has made the situation easier to imagine in two directions: a trade request, or a stunning departure in free agency next year.
For Golden State, the cleanest way to shut down that chatter may be to move fast once Curry becomes eligible for an extension. He can sign a two-year, $136.7 million deal on August 29, and any delay would only invite more questions about whether Curry is waiting on the front office to make a serious move.
For now, though, Dunleavy’s comments have only added to the unease. At a moment when the Warriors could use clarity, the conversation around Curry’s future is still wide open.
In Other News...
Warriors Opening Night Snub Puts New Pressure On Stephen Curry
The Warriors will have to wait an extra day to get their season started, and that alone says something about where they stand in the leagues current hierarchy. Golden State was left off the NBAs opening night slate on Oct. 20, a rare omission for a franchise that has spent much of the past decade as appointment viewing. Instead, the Warriors will open the regular season Oct. 21 against the Lakers, a matchup that should still draw plenty of attention even without the leagues spotlight.
There is a consolation prize, of course, and it is one the Warriors have come to expect: a Christmas Day home game against the Nuggets, extending their 14-year run on the holiday showcase. But opening night matters, too, because it is where the league often signals which teams are central to the story line. For Stephen Curry and a Warriors group still trying to reassert itself among the NBAs headliners, not being part of that first wave adds a little more pressure to make sure the seasons next big stage looks different. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Curry Just Put A Massive Warriors Decision In Focus
Mike Dunleavy Jr. tried to calm any nerves around Stephen Currys future by making clear that the Warriors believe their franchise star will finish his career in Golden State. For a team built around Currys entire era, the question is less about whether he belongs there and more about how the next chapter gets handled, especially with the organization still navigating what comes after a long run of contention.
Currys contract situation keeps the conversation from fading away. He has the ability to shape the timeline himself, and if he chooses not to lock in his long-term future now, the Warriors could be staring at a much bigger decision next summer. Dunleavy made it clear the front office understands that Curry has earned the right to steer his own path, which is why this storyline remains one of the most important on Golden States radar. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Get An Early Test Against A Star-Powered Lakers Team
The Warriors will get an immediate measuring stick when the NBA opens the 2026-27 season on Oct. 21, with Golden State set to meet the Lakers in a marquee Western Conference showcase. It is the kind of early spotlight that can shape the mood around a season before it really gets going, especially for a Warriors team coming off a year that ended without a playoff berth.
Los Angeles will bring plenty of intrigue into that opener as well, starting its first game without LeBron James after his reported offseason move to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Lakers still have the look of a team built to contend after making the playoffs last season, even if their run ended at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, which gives this matchup an added edge for Golden State right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]