After missing the NBA Finals for the first time in six years and missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2011-2012 season, Stephen Curry is in a strange position; being on a bad team.
Let's set the record straight right now. It would be next to unthinkable to have Stephen Curry play for a team that isn't the Golden State Warriors. He's been the face of a clear dynasty that's ruled the 2010s. Curry has been dubbed this generation's Tim Duncan as the poster child for team loyalty and longevity.
Publicly right now, Curry does not appear to be going anywhere, saying all the right things to the media. Following their second blowout loss of the season on Christmas Day to the Milwaukee Bucks, Curry looked to loosen up the young squad, telling them, and the media, to now have the same expectations of the team as Warrior teams of the past.
“This year's different,” Curry said when asked what his message would be to younger teammates. “And to not feel any pressure around Warrior teams in the past. We obviously had that championship DNA, and we understand there's expectations around our organization and that's what we want. But this year's different. It's a new group of guys. We would love to have Klay [Thompson] better these last two games, but that's not going to define our season at all. And go win these next two and you're 2-2 on a road trip. That's what you got to focus on now.
Stay with it, stay composed. Hold yourself accountable to the mistakes we're making as a group and just keep trying to get better. I think at the end of the day, we just have to make sure our effort and our competitiveness is there, and that will help us get through these early growing pains.”
After taking two lopsided losses to the chin, Curry is obviously saying the right things to put minds at ease. But if the losses pile up with no light at the end of the tunnel, could the 2-time MVP gain a wandering eye for greener pastures?
Stephen Curry stands at a precarious point in his NBA career. He's 32 years old and no longer playing at his absolute peak like we saw during his unanimous MVP season in 2015-2016. But at the same time, he's still far off from being content with riding off into the sunset as veterans are wont to do to end their careers.
Curry may no longer be a world-destroying supernova anymore, but he's still an elite talent and bona fide top 10 player in the NBA. Despite the necessary accolades to go down as one of the greatest to ever play, he still has a lot of amazing basketball left ahead of him.
Now any trade talk is obviously premature. Though the Warriors haven't looked good, it's only been two games. Draymond Green looks poised to return soon, and Kelly Oubre Jr. won't be shooting at a historically bad rate much longer (hopefully). But if things don't stabilize soon enough, would Curry be willing to face another down year after wasting one last season? James Wiseman looks promising, but relying on a teenager to serve as a critical weapon on a title contending team seems like a losing lottery ticket.
The superstar is slowly creeping out of his prime. Klay Thompson is still looking to comeback 100%, but there's no assurance he'll look like the Splash Brother we knew him as. Draymond Green has already shown signs of decline. There's a legitimate argument that if Stephen Curry wants to contend for even more titles, he'd be better served elsewhere, following in the footsteps of other superstars who've joined forces in other marquee cities. Adding Stephen Curry to any title-contending club turns them into the instant favorite. After all he's done for the franchise, the team would definitely honor his wishes if he ever actually asks out of the club he's ruled for 11 seasons and counting.
But whatever happens, it all still falls on Stephen Curry. The answer to how many more losses Steph can take depends on how true to his public self Steph truly is. Stars come and go, make guarantees to their city, and move on when the wind takes them elsewhere. But with Curry, the words coming out of his mouth have zero tinge of doubt on his commitment to the team and the city. Things may look bleak for now in Golden State, but one thing they won't have to worry about is Stephen Curry sticking around.
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