Even with four championships in the last 10 seasons, it’s hard to say the Golden State Warriors have taken advantage of Steph Curry’s time with the team.
Especially when you factor in that just one of those championships has come in the last five years — make that six, with the Warriors’ 2023-2024 season officially coming to a close with their April 16 loss to the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference’s play-in tournament.
After the elimination loss, Curry was asked about the team’s future, specifically regarding their dynasty trio featuring himself, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
His response wasn’t exactly encouraging.
“I just want to win,” Curry told reporters. “And I know that’s fully possible. I know this summer is going to be a lot of conversations and trying to set up ourselves to win. Whatever that means, I hope that’s the outcome.”
Not an unreasonable request for a top 10 — arguably top 5 — player in the NBA.
In an era of player empowerment, Curry is viewed as one of the most temperamental of superstars, having graced his front office with patience year after year.
It’s possible that’s all run out. Curry, freshly turned 36 years old, is on the back nine of his future Hall of Fame career.
No one’s expecting him to finish his career anywhere but Golden State. Curry’s under contract through the 2025-2026 season, as are Green and head coach Steve Kerr.
But Thompson, his partner in crime and other half of the “Splash Brothers,” is looking less likely to return.
Curry finished the 2023-2024 season, the 15th of his career, averaging 26.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Klay Thompson Drops Goose Egg in Elimination Game
In their final game of the season, facing elimination, Thompson went scoreless, missing all 10 of his shots.
The pending free agent will be unrestricted this offseason, meaning he’ll have full rein on his decision and where he lands.
Thompson took a moment to soak in the loss and possibly his time walking off the court as a Warrior. He stopped, did a full 360-degree turn, looking at the sights and listening to the sounds.
Klay Thompson goes 0-of-10 shooting in Sacramento elimination game and exits to an unknown Warriors future. Here he is walking off the court. Largest GSW offseason question is whether he will wear this jersey again.
But despite his scoreless outing in the season-ending loss, Thompson received high praise from his teammates and head coach.
“We need Klay back. He still has good years left. We desperately want him back,” Kerr told reporters.
When asked about playing again with Green and Thompson, Curry told reporters, “I can never see myself not with those two guys.”
It’s the latest wrinkle to a Warriors offseason that seems primed for change if they’re to continue leaning on their franchise face in Curry.
Shams Charania Says Klay Thompson Is ‘Open to Seeing His Marketplace’
Is Thompson’s ticket out of town already booked? The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that he would be open to all options this summer.
“Klay Thompson is very open to seeing his marketplace in free agency,” Charania reported on the April 17 episode of FanDuel’s “Run It Back.” “It’s gonna be the hardest call in his life to make if he does end up finding another spot to leave, as far as calling Steph Curry, calling Draymond Green, calling them and saying I’m gone.”
The Orlando Magic have long been linked as a potential landing spot for Thompson.
Spotrac has the Detroit Pistons as the cap space leader come free agency and next season. There’s a number of teams that can outbid Golden State for the guard’s services, but what is he looking for?
Charania reported in an December 13 edition of his newsletter, “The Bounce,” that Thompson turned down a two-year, $48-million extension offer from the Warriors prior to the season.
It’s hard to see any team offering the 34-year-old more than $24 million annually.
But it seems the longtime Golden State guard is determined to find that out for himself.
Stephen Curry, meanwhile, is determined to win. Whatever that looks like for the Warriors and himself moving forward.
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Steph Curry Offers 5 Words on Warriors’ Future After Elimination Loss