Steph Curry took another step towards becoming a Golden State Warrior for life on Thursday, signing a one-year, $62.6 million extension that will keep him with the team through 2027.
That figure of $62.6 represents the highest single-season contract in the history of the NBA , pipping Joel Embiid's $59 million deal for the 2026-27 campaign.
"I've always said I want to be a Warrior for life," Curry told Marc Spears Andscape in July. "At this stage in my career, I feel like that's possible."
The extension will also see Curry become the third player in NBA history -- alongside LeBron James and Kevin Durant -- surpass $500 million in career earnings.
But how does Curry's contract situation compare to James'? The Los Angeles Lakers forward inked a two-year, $104 million deal this offseason featuring both a player option for the second season and a full no-trade clause.
While James may have been a free agent this offseason, he frequently hinted that he had no intentions of leaving the Lakers. Additionally, the team drafted his son Bronny in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
So why is James making less money than Curry? For one, Los Angeles had extreme salary cap concerns this season. James's deal keeps the Lakers just $45,000 under the second-apron -- going over could lead to severe penalties down the road.
The expanding cap also benefits future deals more than present ones. The NBA salary cap is slated to increase by roughly 10% a year, meaning a max contract in 2026-27 will be worth more than one in 2024-25.
James was not eligible to ink an extension: he was a free agent this offseason. Meanwhile, Curry is still finishing a four-year, $215.4 million deal he signed back in 2021.
James has accomplished everything in the sport that one can: he's the NBA's all-time scoring leader, a four-time champion, a 20x NBA All-Star, a four-time NBA MVP, and recently became a three-time Olympic gold medalist.
To be fair, so has Curry. The Warriors legend added his first gold medal to a resume already including 10 All-Star births, two NBA MVPs, and four NBA titles.
Curry will look to add a fifth NBA title with a roster almost entirely unrecognizable from years past. Out is longtime teammate and fellow "Splash Brother" Klay Thompson and in is Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and De'Anthony Melton.
Both the Lakers and Warriors are slated to be amongst the chasing pack in the loaded Western Conference looking to avoid the play-in to secure a guaranteed playoff birth.
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