Warriors eyeing Australian prospect Dash Daniels as Stephen Curry's eventual successor

Warriors quietly start planning for a post-Curry future

Stephen Curry has defined an entire era of Golden State Warriors basketball, but even legends don't play forever. With the franchise icon set to turn 38 during the 2026-27 season and entering the final year of his current deal, the front office is reportedly already looking at what comes next and one name on their radar might surprise you: 18-year-old Australian guard Dash Daniels.

According to ESPN's Olgun Uluc, Warriors scouts have been keeping tabs on Daniels, a projected 2027 NBA Draft prospect, as a potential long-term piece in the backcourt. It's a low-key story now, but one that could carry real weight for a franchise trying to figure out life after its greatest player ever.

Curry's legacy and the clock that's finally ticking

There's no debating Curry's place as the best player in Warriors history. Golden State's fanbase endured decades of frustration before he arrived in 2009, and it was Curry who dragged the franchise back to relevance before helping turn it into one of the most recognizable brands in global sports as part of the NBA's most recent dynasty.

But time comes for everyone, even 12-time All-Stars. Curry will be 38 when next season tips off, and he's heading into a contract year. Having become eligible for a new max deal last month, he could sign one more extension if he doesn't retire outright or test free agency for the first time in his career but realistically, any new deal is likely to be short, just a season or two at most.

That means Golden State is staring down a real deadline: whether it's this offseason or three years from now, the front office needs a plan for who eventually replaces Curry in the backcourt.

Who is Dash Daniels?

Daniels is the younger brother of Dyson Daniels, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft who's now a core piece of the Atlanta Hawks' roster after being traded from New Orleans, thanks largely to his elite defense and steady two-way game. That family DNA appears to run deep.

Scouts got a good look at the younger Daniels during the NBL Blitz, Australia's annual preseason showcase featuring all 10 National Basketball League clubs. The multi-day event draws scouts from around the world and has become a key evaluation window ahead of the regular season.

Per NBA Draft Room's scouting report, Daniels is 'an elite defender with great hands who can guard up and down the lineup,' calling him 'fundamentally sound' and 'a great playmaker' on the defensive end. The flip side: his jump shot and offensive feel still need significant work, particularly from beyond the arc. Despite that, evaluators believe he has legitimate first-round talent and is 'just starting to scratch the surface of his potential.'

Is he actually a Curry replacement or something else?

Let's be clear: right now, Daniels isn't in the same universe as Curry offensively nobody at 18 years old is. But on the other end of the floor, the gap runs the opposite direction, with the young Australian already looking like a far superior defender than Curry ever was.

That contrast is exactly what makes him interesting to Golden State. If his jumper develops with the right coaching and system around him, Daniels could grow into a two-way guard that fills a very different but complementary role than Curry ever did.

• Elite lateral defense and playmaking instincts already at 18
• Three-point shot and offensive feel still need development
• Projected as a first-round talent for the 2027 NBA Draft
• Comes from a proven basketball bloodline via brother Dyson Daniels

What it would mean for the Warriors

Even in the best-case scenario, Daniels wouldn't be asked to replace Curry outright anytime soon. A more realistic path would see the two share the backcourt for a couple of seasons, with Curry himself potentially mentoring the teenager and passing along some of the offensive tricks that made him the greatest shooter the league has ever seen.

For a Warriors franchise built around continuity and internal development, that kind of succession plan — pairing a fading legend with a rising two-way prospect would fit the organization's DNA. It's still early, and nothing is official, but it's a name Golden State fans should start remembering.

Keep an eye on how much draft buzz builds around Dash Daniels over the next year because if the Warriors are already scouting him this closely, other teams almost certainly are too.