Bet of the Day
Could this be the perfect time for NBA Icon Steph Curry to leave the Golden State Warriors?
by Chike Nwoye
29 Jul 2026
There was a time when the Golden State Warriors could seemingly summon another superstar at will whenever Steph Curry needed help. Kevin Durant arrived. The Warriors won championships. Even when the dynasty appeared to be over, Golden State somehow found another championship run in 2022.
Those days, however, appear to be gone.
The Warriors entered the 2026 NBA offseason with one obvious objective: find Curry the kind of star power necessary to make another deep playoff run. They explored moves for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, among others, but came away empty-handed. James, the most realistic of those possibilities, and close friends with Draymond Green, ultimately chose the Philadelphia 76ers for what could be the final championship chase of his career.
For Curry, one of the greatest players in the history of basketball, that leaves a familiar problem. The 38-year-old remains one of the NBA's best players, but the Warriors increasingly resemble a team caught between eras. They are not quite ready to rebuild, but they are no longer constructed like genuine championship contenders either.
And that is basketball purgatory.
Steph Curry Can Still Dominate Basketball Games
It would be easy to look at Curry's age and assume his best days are behind him. I mean, he is 38. The numbers suggest otherwise. He averaged 26.6 points per game last season while shooting 39.3% from three, despite playing just 43 games. Across the last two seasons, he has averaged 25.3 points and 5.5 assists.
The problem, therefore, isn't Curry. It is what the Warriors can realistically put around him.
Jimmy Butler, the team's biggest acquisition since the 2022 championship, is recovering from a torn ACL. Moses Moody is also recovering from a serious knee injury. Kristaps Porziņģis has battled injuries throughout his career, while veteran additions such as Al Horford are entering their 40s. Draymond Green is also on the wrong side of 30. This means Golden State's six highest-paid players are either aging or dealing with significant injury concerns. That feels like a major red flag, especially for the online sports betting community hoping to win some money off the Warriors. But even more important, that makes Curry's recent comments particularly revealing.
Asked about LeBron choosing Philadelphia, Curry did not sound angry or disappointed. He sounded like a man who understands the reality of his situation. “That's why you don't envision anything until it happens,” he said. “There's a lot of moving parts.”
His more important comments were about Butler and Moody. Their injuries, he explained, changed “the whole calculus of everything.”
That calculus is simple: Curry still has the ability to lead a championship team, but Golden State does not currently have one.
The Warriors' Problem
The Warriors' predicament is not necessarily that they have stopped trying to win. Rather, they appear unwilling to sacrifice everything they have left to chase one more championship immediately. They have significant draft-pick equity and financial flexibility. It could still make a major move. But the franchise has been reluctant to surrender multiple first-round picks unless the return is substantial enough to make it a legitimate title contender.
That is understandable from the Warriors' perspective.
The dynasty has already delivered four championships. The organization has no obligation to recklessly dismantle its future simply because Curry is nearing the end of his career. But from Curry's perspective, the equation is more complicated. He has spent his entire career in Golden State and has repeatedly expressed a desire to remain there. Yet he has also made it clear that he does not want his final years to become a glorified farewell tour.
That is where the Kobe Bryant comparison becomes uncomfortable.
Bryant remained a Los Angeles Laker throughout his career, but the final years of his career were spent on teams that were nowhere close to playoff contention, nevermind championship calibre. He became the face of a rebuilding organization while chasing personal milestones in the twilight of an otherwise extraordinary career.
Curry does not want that. And he shouldn't.
The LeBron James Miss Could Be Bigger Than It Looks
LeBron James’ decision to join Philadelphia isn't devastating simply because Golden State missed out on another superstar. It represents another failed attempt to find Curry the help he needs. The Warriors have explored Giannis, Brown and James. None arrived. That leaves Curry facing another season in which he may have to carry an enormous offensive burden while Golden State waits for Butler and Moody to return.
The Western Conference isn't getting any easier, either. Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver, Minnesota, Houston and the Lakers all have legitimate postseason ambitions. The Warriors, meanwhile, finished 37-45 last season and failed to reach the playoffs after losing in the Play-In Tournament. In fact, since their fifth consecutive NBA Finals appearance in 2019, Golden State has missed the playoffs four times in seven seasons.
That is not the trajectory of a championship team. It is the trajectory of a team that can still make the postseason because it has one of the greatest players ever, but increasingly struggles to go much further.
Is Curry's Future Really in Golden State?
For now, probably.
It remains difficult to imagine Curry wearing another jersey. He is the greatest player in Warriors history, the face of the franchise and arguably the most important figure in its history.
But “difficult to imagine” is not the same as “impossible.”
Curry has one season remaining on his contract and is eligible for a two-year extension worth a reported $136.7 million. There is even an argument that he could delay signing it. If Curry, Butler and Green all reach free agency next summer, Golden State could potentially create significant cap space and attempt another major roster overhaul.
That is a gamble for everyone involved. Curry would be sacrificing long-term security on the assumption that the Warriors can finally deliver the superstar help they have failed to acquire this summer. Golden State, meanwhile, would be asking its greatest player to trust that the next move will finally be the one that changes everything.
There is also a reason for optimism.
Curry has historically bounced back strongly after injury-plagued seasons. After playing 56 games in 2022-23, he returned to play 70 games and won the inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award. After playing only five games in 2019-20, he returned the following season to average a career-high 32 points per game before Golden State won the championship in 2022. A rested Curry can still be terrifying. The problem is that history has never asked a nearly 40-year-old Curry to carry this much.
The Clock Is Ticking For Curry and the Warriors
This is what makes Curry's current situation so fascinating.
The Warriors aren't necessarily giving up on him. They are still willing to pay him like the franchise icon he is. They still believe Butler can return to his best, Moody can develop and their young players can grow into meaningful contributors. However, there is a growing sense that Golden State is also preparing for life after Curry.
That is sensible business. But it is also potentially disastrous timing for Curry. The Warriors can afford to think about the next decade. Curry cannot. Every season he spends waiting for the next championship-calibre roster is another season disappearing from a career that is in its final chapter.
That is why LeBron's decision matters. Philadelphia gave him the best odds to win a 5th ring. Curry, meanwhile, is left trying to keep Golden State relevant long enough for the next opportunity to appear.
Perhaps that opportunity comes next summer. Perhaps Butler returns healthy and the young players take a significant leap. Perhaps another superstar suddenly becomes available and the Warriors finally make the aggressive move Curry has been waiting for. Perhaps none of that happens. And if it doesn't, Curry may eventually have to make the most difficult decision of his career: remain loyal to the franchise where he became a legend or leave Golden State in pursuit of the one thing that has always mattered to competitors - winning.
For now, Curry remains a Warrior. But with the dynasty firmly in the rear-view mirror, the Warriors are increasingly looking toward life after their greatest player. Curry, meanwhile, is looking in the opposite direction. He is still chasing what comes next.
The question is whether Golden State can build a team capable of chasing it with him.
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BetKing offers you the chance to win big by betting on different basketball leagues like the WNBA, Euroleague and college competitions like the NCAA. Join us today to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.
There was a time when the Golden State Warriors could seemingly summon another superstar at will whenever Steph Curry needed help. Kevin Durant arrived. The Warriors won championships. Even when the dynasty appeared to be over, Golden State somehow found another championship run in 2022.
Those days, however, appear to be gone.
The Warriors entered the 2026 NBA offseason with one obvious objective: find Curry the kind of star power necessary to make another deep playoff run. They explored moves for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, among others, but came away empty-handed. James, the most realistic of those possibilities, and close friends with Draymond Green, ultimately chose the Philadelphia 76ers for what could be the final championship chase of his career.
For Curry, one of the greatest players in the history of basketball, that leaves a familiar problem. The 38-year-old remains one of the NBA's best players, but the Warriors increasingly resemble a team caught between eras. They are not quite ready to rebuild, but they are no longer constructed like genuine championship contenders either.
And that is basketball purgatory.
Steph Curry Can Still Dominate Basketball Games
It would be easy to look at Curry's age and assume his best days are behind him. I mean, he is 38. The numbers suggest otherwise. He averaged 26.6 points per game last season while shooting 39.3% from three, despite playing just 43 games. Across the last two seasons, he has averaged 25.3 points and 5.5 assists.
The problem, therefore, isn't Curry. It is what the Warriors can realistically put around him.
Jimmy Butler, the team's biggest acquisition since the 2022 championship, is recovering from a torn ACL. Moses Moody is also recovering from a serious knee injury. Kristaps Porziņģis has battled injuries throughout his career, while veteran additions such as Al Horford are entering their 40s. Draymond Green is also on the wrong side of 30. This means Golden State's six highest-paid players are either aging or dealing with significant injury concerns. That feels like a major red flag, especially for the online sports betting community hoping to win some money off the Warriors. But even more important, that makes Curry's recent comments particularly revealing.
Asked about LeBron choosing Philadelphia, Curry did not sound angry or disappointed. He sounded like a man who understands the reality of his situation. “That's why you don't envision anything until it happens,” he said. “There's a lot of moving parts.”
His more important comments were about Butler and Moody. Their injuries, he explained, changed “the whole calculus of everything.”
That calculus is simple: Curry still has the ability to lead a championship team, but Golden State does not currently have one.
The Warriors' Problem
The Warriors' predicament is not necessarily that they have stopped trying to win. Rather, they appear unwilling to sacrifice everything they have left to chase one more championship immediately. They have significant draft-pick equity and financial flexibility. It could still make a major move. But the franchise has been reluctant to surrender multiple first-round picks unless the return is substantial enough to make it a legitimate title contender.
That is understandable from the Warriors' perspective.
The dynasty has already delivered four championships. The organization has no obligation to recklessly dismantle its future simply because Curry is nearing the end of his career. But from Curry's perspective, the equation is more complicated. He has spent his entire career in Golden State and has repeatedly expressed a desire to remain there. Yet he has also made it clear that he does not want his final years to become a glorified farewell tour.
That is where the Kobe Bryant comparison becomes uncomfortable.
Bryant remained a Los Angeles Laker throughout his career, but the final years of his career were spent on teams that were nowhere close to playoff contention, nevermind championship calibre. He became the face of a rebuilding organization while chasing personal milestones in the twilight of an otherwise extraordinary career.
Curry does not want that. And he shouldn't.
The LeBron James Miss Could Be Bigger Than It Looks
LeBron James’ decision to join Philadelphia isn't devastating simply because Golden State missed out on another superstar. It represents another failed attempt to find Curry the help he needs. The Warriors have explored Giannis, Brown and James. None arrived. That leaves Curry facing another season in which he may have to carry an enormous offensive burden while Golden State waits for Butler and Moody to return.
The Western Conference isn't getting any easier, either. Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver, Minnesota, Houston and the Lakers all have legitimate postseason ambitions. The Warriors, meanwhile, finished 37-45 last season and failed to reach the playoffs after losing in the Play-In Tournament. In fact, since their fifth consecutive NBA Finals appearance in 2019, Golden State has missed the playoffs four times in seven seasons.
That is not the trajectory of a championship team. It is the trajectory of a team that can still make the postseason because it has one of the greatest players ever, but increasingly struggles to go much further.
Is Curry's Future Really in Golden State?
For now, probably.
It remains difficult to imagine Curry wearing another jersey. He is the greatest player in Warriors history, the face of the franchise and arguably the most important figure in its history.
But “difficult to imagine” is not the same as “impossible.”
Curry has one season remaining on his contract and is eligible for a two-year extension worth a reported $136.7 million. There is even an argument that he could delay signing it. If Curry, Butler and Green all reach free agency next summer, Golden State could potentially create significant cap space and attempt another major roster overhaul.
That is a gamble for everyone involved. Curry would be sacrificing long-term security on the assumption that the Warriors can finally deliver the superstar help they have failed to acquire this summer. Golden State, meanwhile, would be asking its greatest player to trust that the next move will finally be the one that changes everything.
There is also a reason for optimism.
Curry has historically bounced back strongly after injury-plagued seasons. After playing 56 games in 2022-23, he returned to play 70 games and won the inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award. After playing only five games in 2019-20, he returned the following season to average a career-high 32 points per game before Golden State won the championship in 2022. A rested Curry can still be terrifying. The problem is that history has never asked a nearly 40-year-old Curry to carry this much.
The Clock Is Ticking For Curry and the Warriors
This is what makes Curry's current situation so fascinating.
The Warriors aren't necessarily giving up on him. They are still willing to pay him like the franchise icon he is. They still believe Butler can return to his best, Moody can develop and their young players can grow into meaningful contributors. However, there is a growing sense that Golden State is also preparing for life after Curry.
That is sensible business. But it is also potentially disastrous timing for Curry. The Warriors can afford to think about the next decade. Curry cannot. Every season he spends waiting for the next championship-calibre roster is another season disappearing from a career that is in its final chapter.
That is why LeBron's decision matters. Philadelphia gave him the best odds to win a 5th ring. Curry, meanwhile, is left trying to keep Golden State relevant long enough for the next opportunity to appear.
Perhaps that opportunity comes next summer. Perhaps Butler returns healthy and the young players take a significant leap. Perhaps another superstar suddenly becomes available and the Warriors finally make the aggressive move Curry has been waiting for. Perhaps none of that happens. And if it doesn't, Curry may eventually have to make the most difficult decision of his career: remain loyal to the franchise where he became a legend or leave Golden State in pursuit of the one thing that has always mattered to competitors - winning.
For now, Curry remains a Warrior. But with the dynasty firmly in the rear-view mirror, the Warriors are increasingly looking toward life after their greatest player. Curry, meanwhile, is looking in the opposite direction. He is still chasing what comes next.
The question is whether Golden State can build a team capable of chasing it with him.
Click Here To Bet On Basketball Games
BetKing offers you the chance to win big by betting on different basketball leagues like the WNBA, Euroleague and college competitions like the NCAA. Join us today to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.