Stephen Curry's Two Contract Paths With the Warriors And Why Golden State Isn't Worried

Curry's Two Contract Paths: $136.7M Now or $212.9M Later

Stephen Curry doesn't have to make any decision under pressure. He's already under contract through the 2026-27 season thanks to the one-year, $62.6 million extension he signed in 2024. But that deal also opened a new question: what does he do next?

Right now, Curry is eligible to sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension with the Warriors — a deal he could put pen to paper on immediately. The alternative is to wait it out and hit free agency in 2027, when he'd be eligible for a three-year deal worth $212.9 million, a significantly larger long-term commitment.

The gap between the two numbers comes down to the NBA's Over-38 rule, which restricts how long a contract can run for players who will be 38 or older during the deal. Curry, who turns 38 in March 2026, is right at that threshold, and the rule shapes exactly how much term Golden State can offer him at any given moment.

Why Waiting Until 2027 Isn't a Red Flag

It's tempting to read "Curry might wait until 2027" as a sign he's keeping his options open elsewhere. That's not what this is. The choice in front of him is purely about timing and length not about whether he wants to stay with Golden State.

Curry has spent his entire 17-season NBA career with the Warriors, and he's said publicly that he wants to retire there. Some reports have even suggested he's eyeing a 20-season career, which would mean playing well past his current deal. None of that lines up with a player quietly shopping for an exit.

What the two contract paths actually reflect is a financial and structural decision: sign a shorter deal now for immediate security, or wait two years for a larger overall guarantee once the Over-38 rule allows for more term. Either path keeps him in a Warriors uniform — the difference is dollars and duration, not loyalty.

Warriors Brass Push Back on Trade Speculation

As is often the case with aging superstars, trade chatter around Curry has surfaced anyway — and Golden State's front office wasted no time shutting it down.

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he's confident Curry will finish his career as a Warrior, pointing to Curry's consistent desire to win in Golden State as evidence the relationship isn't going anywhere. Dunleavy also made clear that the timing of any extension is ultimately Curry's call, not the front office's.

Owner Joe Lacob went further, dismissing the trade rumors outright as "clickbait" and saying he can't imagine a scenario where Curry leaves the franchise. It's a rare instance of an owner and a top executive both going on record with the same message at the same time.

• Mike Dunleavy Jr.: confident Curry finishes his career in Golden State
• Joe Lacob: calls trade rumors "clickbait," denies any scenario of a move
• Curry: has said he wants to stay, but acknowledges the team must stay realistic about competing

What Comes Next

Nothing here is resolved yet  that's the point. Curry hasn't signed the two-year extension, and he hasn't publicly ruled out waiting until 2027. Both paths remain live, and the next real signal will come from either a signed deal or a fresh round of comments from Curry, Dunleavy, or Lacob.

For now, the storyline isn't about Curry's future outside Golden State it's about which contract structure he and the front office ultimately land on, and when that gets made official.

Keep an eye on how the Warriors' roster moves shape up heading into the trade deadline  those decisions will say as much about the front office's long-term plan around Curry as any contract number will.