For the last 15 seasons, no other player has embodied Golden State Warriors basketball better than Stephen Curry . Despite being 36 now, the two-time MVP continues to carry the team and the franchise's title aspirations on his back. However, the last two seasons haven't been as meaningful for Curry and the Warriors as in 2022, when they last won the title.
In 2023, they made it to the Western Conference semifinals but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Last season, they failed to reach the postseason after losing in humiliating fashion to the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament. Although Steph has expressed his commitment to the franchise he helped elevate to greatness, questions remain about the team's ability to compete for another championship.
That said, Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce recently discussed whether it was prudent for Steph to remain with the team that drafted him with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft despite the signs of decline. "The Truth" shared that he doesn't see Steph going elsewhere for the remainder of his career.
Going down with the ship
Curry remains one of the most lethal scorers and playmakers in the entire league. In fact, he recently reminded us of his capabilities at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he made 17 three-pointers in the tournament's last two games to help the United States clinch the gold medal.
According to Pierce, Steph has built his career and established his legacy in the Bay Area, where he'll likely finish his career, regardless of whether the Warriors make another title run.
"He's going down with that ship," Paul said on "Ticket and The Truth. "It's all legacy."
This is not to say that Curry will coast in the next few seasons and ride off into the sunset. The ten-time All-Star is one of the most competitive players in the game, and Pierce expects the "Chef" to keep dragging the Warriors until his arms fall off.
"I mean, obviously, he wants to win, but if you ain't got the personnel, then you gotta be realistic. They don't have a championship team right now. They don't. As constructed, they don't," Paul asserted.
The Warriors will sport a different makeup next season. Longtime "Splash Brother" Klay Thompson has joined the Dallas Mavericks and has since been replaced by numerous role players such as De'Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, and Buddy Hield. The team's front office desperately tried to acquire a big-name superstar this offseason but failed.
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Continue to play his heart out
As the saying goes, the captain goes down with the ship. And that's precisely what Paul expects Steph to do: to continue playing his heart out for the franchise and the fans who helped him become a global superstar.
"I don't see him going nowhere else. I'm gonna sit there and play my heart out for the fans who appreciated me all these years. That's what I'm gonna do," the Hall of Famer said. "I'mma give the game what the game gave me, and I'mma hold my head up, and whatever it is, it's gonna be. I'mma practice hard every day, I'mma play hard every day, and whatever happens, happens."
While some superstars have tried to chase championships in the twilight of their careers by moving to teams with more immediate title aspirations, Pierce said he doesn't see Steph doing that at all and anticipates Steph to ply the route that the late, great Kobe Bryant walked on.
"I saw Kobe—yeah, Kobe lost. He lost his last couple years, but he still went hard, didn't he? Yeah, he went hard. Yeah, he wasn't complaining," Pierce added. "That's Steph. He carried that in Golden State. You think he's trying to chase? You don't think he wants another champ? I'm sure he does, but he ain't gonna go chase it."
What's clear is despite his age and the mileage on his body, Curry is still one of the league's best players. At the same time, what's uncertain is the Warriors' chances of winning another title. With no fellow superstar on the team, it's all on Steph's shoulders to lead the team and carry them to victory, which is a lot easier to say than do, especially in the stacked Western Conference.
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