Staying with one team for your entire career is a tricky endeavor that only a few superstars have been able to pull off. The list of players who have achieved this feat is short, but the most prominent ones include the late Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Dirk Nowitzki. Why is this hard to do, you ask?
For one, the NBA is a business; teams continually look for ways to improve and be in the best position to contend for an NBA title. This means that players, even a team's pillar, may be traded if they no longer fit into a team's plans.
However, some players have made it their goal to stay with one team for their entire career despite the challenges and uncertainty that may come with it. One such player is the "Chef," Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors .
Warrior for life
The "Baby-Faced Assassin" is currently in Las Vegas for Team USA's training camp for the Paris Olympics. Amid the arduous preparations, the 15-year veteran sat down with Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill and admitted wanting to stay with the same franchise that took a chance on him in the NBA Draft in 2009.
"I can clearly say I want to be a Warrior for life. That's always been my goal, and I'm saying that sitting in this chair right now," Steph said , giving himself a little wiggle room to pivot if things drastically change in the next few seasons.
While many view the NBA as entertainment media, some can lose sight of the fact that the league is a billion-dollar business run by businessmen with no qualms about making cold, calculated decisions. The ten-time All-Star knows this well and admits that while his desire to stay with the Warriors is strong, he understands it's ultimately a business decision.
"Life, especially life in the NBA, is a wild environment, and things change quickly. The league has changed quickly, so we're trying to adapt and evolve. I'll let everybody know if that changes, but right now, of course, the goal is always to finish my career with one team," the 6-foot-2 sharpshooter stressed.
Related: Kobe Bryant's former bodyguard compared working for him and other NBA stars: "Kobe was a sit outside-the-gate person"
Still wants to win
The former Davidson Wildcat is already 36 but remains as lethal a scorer as any in the Association. Despite experts proclaiming the end of the Dubs' dynasty, particularly following the team's absence from the NBA Playoffs last season, Curry is resolute in his pursuit of an NBA championship and refuses to merely fade away.
"I always want to win, plain and simple. There's no contentment in just cashing a check, playing basketball, and riding it out. Pressure is applied because I want to win and be in the best position to make that happen," the ten-time All-NBA selection emphasized.
Winning in the NBA is difficult; sustained success is even more demanding, but the Warriors were able to do that for a decade. However, with the team's "Big 3" already broken up following Klay Thompson's departure for Dallas last month, Steph and the Dubs face a new reality heading into the 2024-2025 season.
Without Thompson and other key supporting cast members like Chris Paul and Dario Saric, Curry knows the burden falls even more heavily on his shoulders. Yet, he is determined to do whatever it takes to keep the Warriors in contention for another championship.
Related: "I just pray it works out" - Curry says he fully supports Klay's decision to start anew in Dallas
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