Stephen A. Smith slams Warriors for failing to give Steph Curry ‘additional help’ after mammoth $62m contract extension

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith is baffled by the Golden State Warriors failure to find Steph Curry a new All-Star teammate.

The veteran sportscaster spoke out after Curry signed a fresh $63 million extension with the organization last month.

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Stephen A. appeared on First Take amid speculation Curry would be joined in San Fran by NBA icon LeBron James.

And he was quick to hit out at the organization for failing to miss out on trade targets Paul George and Lauri Markkanen.

“I’m very interested in delving a bit further. Why couldn’t they get Paul George,” Smith told the ESPN sports debate show.

“Why can’t they get another superstar to pair with Steph Curry?

“Especially in the aftermath of Kevin Durant’s departure.

“Maybe you didn’t feel the need to have anybody, I get that part, because Klay Thompson is Klay Thompson and Draymond [Green] is Draymond.

“But I’m still looking at the organization as a whole – specifically Steve Kerr – and I’m saying, ‘How come we can’t get this brother any additional help?'”

Curry and Thompson – known as the Splash Brothers – won four NBA titles together during their time with the Warriors.

Thompson left Golden State this offseason after 13 years, joining up with the Dallas Mavericks.

And a frustrated Stephen A. can’t understand why the franchise is yet to find a superstar to play alongside Curry.

“We’re talking about a Steph Curry that still looks like he’s in his prime,” Stephen A. continued.

“Still the greatest shooter on the planet.

“You would think people would clamor to [play alongside Curry]. I don’t know if that has been the case.”

Curry’s new deal will keep him with the Warriors until the end of the 2026/27 season.

First Take viewing figures

First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.

The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 – making it the most-watched year in program history.

Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.

The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.

First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.

He recently appeared on The Today Show and reiterated his desire to retire as a Warrior.

“I hope so for sure,” Curry said.

“I’ve been there, going into my 16th year. I’ve always said it’s a goal of mine to finish my career with that organization.

“I wanna keep winning, obviously, and I know we have hopefully some days ahead of still doing that.”

First Take airs every weekday from 10 am Eastern on ESPN.