Stephen Curry 1-on-1: On legacy, LeBron James and being a one-franchise star

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HONOLULU — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has spoken to former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and former Dallas Mavericks ahead Dirk Nowitzki about their legacies with their respective franchises. Curry, a four-time NBA champion, additionally as soon as talked to Kobe Bryant about life after the league.

Like Nowitzki and Bryant, Curry will proceed to sequence for just one franchise as he enters his 18th NBA year with the Golden State Warriors. After inking a two-year, $116 million contract extension with the Warriors this offseason, the 38-year-old acknowledged he can get emotional when he displays on his legacy and longevity within the San Francisco Bay Area.

“I’m constantly going through those emotions,” Curry advised Andscape from the Ritz-Carlton O’ahu throughout Golden State’s coaching camp. “Just gratitude of the place that I’m in. Me and [my wife] Ayesha had a pleasant second to ourselves the day that it grew to become official to reminisce on how far we’ve come. I nonetheless really feel like I can sequence at a excessive degree. But I feel [the emotions were because of] what that extension signified. God prepared, I can see it by way of.

“To represent the organization for that long, to play in front of one fanbase, and grow up through all the ups and downs, triumphs, the losses, the kind of personal development journey I’ve been on, and all that … there’s definitely a sense of pride being able to see it through. And now I can just play basketball and enjoy it. And that’s what I’m excited about.”

Curry was drafted by Golden State with the eighth decide within the 2009 NBA draft and has performed in 1,069 regular-season video games whereas scoring 26,528 factors with the franchise. His contract extension might preserve him in a Warriors uniform by way of the 2028-29 year. If he workout routines a competitor possibility on the ultimate year, the NBA’s all-time chief in 3-pointers made will turn into the primary competitor in league historical past to surpass $600 million in profession earnings.

Curry remains to be taking part in at a excessive degree, averaging 26.6 factors, 4.7 assists, and three.6 rebounds per showdown throughout the 2025-26 NBA year, although he performed simply 43 video games resulting from setback. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder additionally tweaked his proper ankle throughout the roster’s open observe in San Francisco on Sunday and is listed as possible for Wednesday’s year opener in opposition to the host Los Angeles Lakers.

Curry might be taking part in in his fifteenth year alongside Draymond Green and his thirteenth year led by play-caller Steve Kerr, who thought-about leaving after final year.

The following is a Q&A dialog with Curry with Andscape through which he displays on his longevity and legacy with the Warriors, his relationship with Kerr and Green, the failed recruitment of LeBron James in free company, his legacy on and off the courtroom within the Bay Area, the important thing to staying wholesome and extra.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry on selecting to stick with the group for therefore lengthy: “I got to embrace the different iterations of this team and there was a clear kind of answer of this is what we need to do.”David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Why have you ever felt so comfy right here that you simply haven’t wished to discover?

I used to be speaking to [former Warriors general manager] Bob Myers about it lately. And I’ve had a really blessed expertise within the league, as a result of each step of the way in which there was both a transparent imaginative and prescient of who we had been imagined to be as a roster or a problem that I might get behind and embrace. And that’s been a tremendous journey at each inflection level. The power was extra, “What do we need to do to change us to get to or stay at that level or get to the next level?” versus something exterior of our group piquing my curiosity.

And so, once more, up till this newest one, the dialog was somewhat louder than common. I received to embrace the totally different iterations of this roster and there was a transparent reply of that is what we have to do. And we’ve had nice additions alongside the way in which which have embraced what we do and the way we do it that had been an enormous a part of our success, from KD [Kevin Durant], clearly, in these years to, you understand, the down interval we had proper round COVID to that ’22 roster, after which lately attempting to reimagine what we do.

It hasn’t labored out the way in which we wished to, however the journey has been enjoyable. So now we’re able the place I received to decide on, stick it out, struggle for the power to compete at a excessive degree of doing it right here. And that’s what I selected.

Have you ever talked to Kobe, Dirk and Tim [Duncan] about legacy with one roster, or any person from one other sport or one other style? Any of these conversations had an impression on you and possibly performed some affect in how you’re feeling about the place you presently are?

Not particularly about that brief listing of fellows who performed for one roster. But I talked to Kobe years again, just like the 12 months after he retired. And it was extra concerning the transition into exerting that artistic power into one thing else. Talked to Dirk, who nonetheless lives in Dallas, represents the group, will get to return again. That connection as a competitor and now just like the ambassador, no matter position he’s taking part in within the group, how a lot he’s fulfilled by that. I’ve talked to Tom Brady nearly longevity and taking part in. But I feel the largest factor is that there’s a mutual respect of all of us of figuring out what it takes to hold the torch at that stage and that degree for so long as we’ve been in a position to do it. And I really feel that each single day.

That’s why the work will get more durable the deeper you get into profession. But that’s why you continue to do it, as a result of you understand at a sure level it’s going to be over and also you’re going to overlook it a lot. And to have the ability to do it once more in a single uniform and hopefully in entrance of 1 fanbase, that issues much more, as a result of there might be that connection without end. So, the whole lot else, you actually can’t management on this this league, sports activities normally.

Stephen Curry (proper) has talked to Dirk Nowitzki, amongst others, about carrying the torch and taking part in at a excessive degree.Danny Bollinger/NBAE by way of Getty Images

Steve Kerr determined to return again. How did you’re feeling about him coming again? And what position did you sequence in that?

It was a complicated summer season at the start of the summer season. And what I imply by that’s on the time we misplaced [in last season’s finale] in Phoenix, should you requested me proper after we had been strolling out the world — I feel Draymond talked about it, too — we thought it [Kerr’s coaching tenure] was over. We had been mad that we misplaced the showdown and that was a foregone conclusion. When he pulled us to the facet, like 13 years of recollections simply rushed again. It was like, “This is it?” And then the conversations that occurred over the subsequent month or so had been very enlightening as a result of all of us knew we nonetheless wished it. We nonetheless would like to embrace the problem.

But for Steve, I feel it simply needed to make sense for the place he was in his life, his household, the power he needed to do the job. I feel that’s what we had been involved about essentially the most. And as soon as he type of gave that vote of confidence, then it was like, “All right, what do we need to do?” We preserve utilizing this phrase “reimagine” with who we’re and the way we do issues. From there, it’s been an incredible summer season of belief. Obviously, that you understand any thought is open, and we’re in a position to type of bounce stuff off one another.

We nonetheless perceive how laborious it’s to conquer on this league and particularly coming off the 12 months we had final [season]. There’s challenges. Embrace them, work by way of them, hopefully get the younger guys into it. I feel Steve has been the definition of consistency in terms of that management place of creating positive we’re asking the proper questions of ourselves to deliver the most effective out of us. That’s all you may actually ask for. However it finally ends up, I feel we’re completely happy he’s again.

Stephen Curry (proper) on longtime teammate Draymond Green (left): “I can say this and I mean it, like none of our championships happen without him.”Noah Graham/NBAE by way of Getty Images

Draymond Green, you guys look like joined on the hip without end. You did somewhat little bit of wink-wink along with your contract maybe to make sure that he stays. Is that correct? And what does he imply to you?

I’m going to spend a while ultimately speaking eloquently about what he means to this group. I can say this and I imply it: None of our championships occur with out him. I’m not who I’m with out him. Steve’s not the play-caller that he’s. Klay [Thompson] is just not the champion that he’s with out Draymond. And all of us have that to say about one another. The thought of how this ends — we wish to give ourselves choices and adaptability to have the ability to do what’s vital with the data that we discover out about ourselves all through every year.

Of course, I’d love to complete my profession with Steve on the bench and Draymond on the courtroom. I feel each determination is type of with that in thoughts. We like to hoop and we like to embrace what’s taking place. And once more, who is aware of the way it finally ends up? But that’s one thing that’s vital for me to indicate somewhat motion, I assume, to ensure we’ve choices.

Why isn’t LeBron in Hawaii for Warriors coaching camp? Why couldn’t you and Draymond get that achieved?

You miss one hundred pc of the photographs you don’t take. We took some photographs at it. But I assume a man like that, when you understand you will have the power to go wherever you need, you discover a place that’s best for you. It simply wasn’t right here.

Did you ever really feel like he was coming?

There had been days I did. Days I didn’t. I feel I knew [that] if there was a deeper feeling or he would have proven that [Golden State] was excessive up on his listing, we’d have felt that. Until you hear the ultimate determination, you bought to assume we received the most effective shot, as a result of we didn’t know when he was going to say it. But it’s most likely extra for him to reply than us.

What are you able to guys do that year? What are your expectations and hopes?

We’re going by way of coaching camp, and we haven’t talked about report. We haven’t talked about seeding within the West. We haven’t talked about any of that. And it’s type of refreshing. We really feel like we’re a playoff roster. The greatest caveat for us is well being. We should have availability. We had been tenth seed final 12 months with me lacking [39] video games. Al [Horford] missed numerous time. And we nonetheless gave ourselves an opportunity to sneak in.

So, if we will keep wholesome, tweak numerous our technique on each ends of the ball to only sequence extra sound basketball, extra environment friendly basketball. Allow a few of our younger guys to take these steps. Of course, we really feel like we ought to be within the playoffs. But we’re not speaking about that as a result of it will get in the way in which of simply taking part in good, disciplined basketball that we all know goes to assist us conquer the showdown.

How do you keep wholesome?

For me, it’s only a mindfulness. I’ve been doing issues in a different way over the summer season to handle what I received happening. The thought of coming into [training] camp contemporary and in a position to ramp up from right here, I feel I’ve checked that field. I really feel actually good. The issues that I can management, I feel I’m forward of the showdown on. There are accidents occur in each sport. You see what occurred to Moses [Moody] and Jimmy [Butler] final [season]. Health is a prerequisite to successful. I don’t care who it’s within the league.

You’re not successful title, not to mention making a deep run, with out your guys. And so, we’re all ready in [training] camp and received to maintain doing that day after day. Have some fortune on our facet. But for me personally, I really feel like we’re in an incredible spot and in a position to type of construct as we go.

Do you assume a lot time has handed that individuals forgotten earlier than the championships how laborious it was for you at first along with your ankle accidents and the losses?

The actual ones most likely know. That’s type of why it’s been enjoyable to inform a few of the tales by way of a few of the documentaries and stuff, as a result of it’s such a very long time that it’s again of thoughts for me. In 2009 after I was drafted, successful 20-something video games to the 2 ankle surgical procedures and the [head coach] Mark Jackson years and Steve Kerr [being hired] and clearly going from there.

So many issues have occurred and I might sit and discuss it for days. And I most likely will when it’s all mentioned however, between me, Draymond and Steve, we’ve seen rather a lot collectively during the last 15 years and 13 years, respectively. But going into my 18th 12 months, like I don’t overlook these days to understand what’s taking place.

Well, was there even a time in these early years that you simply wished out?

Nah. They virtually pushed me out [in a trade to the Milwaukee Bucks]. And that’s a blessing in disguise of issues that didn’t occur that type of allowed me to have this sort of realized dream as a Warrior. Yeah, exterior of that, that was as dicey because it most likely ever received up till now.

The Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation has allowed Stephen (left) and Ayesha Curry (proper) to offer again to the Oakland neighborhood.Noah Graham/Getty Images for Eat. Learn. Play

What does the San Francisco Bay Area imply to you and your loved ones?

I get emotional generally. Just pondering, I get to sit down right here 18 years in. I’m virtually at some extent the place I’ve lived longer within the Bay than I’ve lived in Charlotte, which is clearly my hometown. And the thought of rising up in entrance of a fanbase, rising up as an grownup, as a basketball competitor. Me and Ayesha determining who we had been as a pair, attempting to start out a household within the Bay, discovering our neighborhood, the East Bay.

We’re elevating Bay youngsters for positive. And it’s type of loopy to assume that after I first received drafted, I knew about Oakland. I knew the place it was. But I knew nothing concerning the spirit of and the satisfaction of the Bay. And the primary time I got here out, walked, received toured round Jack London [Square] and Lake Merritt. And you may simply really feel the purity, the power, the satisfaction of being from “The Town” [Oakland], “The City” [San Francisco] or no matter half you’re from.

There’s such a connection and a thrill out of historical past and Civil Rights to expression of artistry, creativity, expertise in all totally different industries. And so, that each one type of got here into, even after we had been at our worst, from the Warriors’ [results] perspective — taking part in at Oracle [Arena in Oakland], it was an unbelievable area. You felt so fortunate to be saying, “Of course we want to win.” But even when we’re not, they present as much as assist us, and so they’re loud, and so they’re passionate and so they care. And in order that constructed as much as [winning the NBA championship in] 2015 after which now, clearly past, has been monumental to my expertise as a grad. You can conquer in numerous totally different locations, however that is particular.

Your charity group along with your spouse, “Eat. Learn. Play.,” is seven years in now. Now there are generations of children who’re in Oakland who’ve been positively influenced by it. What does that group like imply to you? And there are going to be youngsters for years now which can be going to say that thanks to the Curry household on your assist.

It’s rewarding to know, once more the whole lot I discussed nearly taking part in in entrance of the neighborhood that supported us, that we discovered a method to create an enduring legacy and impression the place it’s wanted most. It’s that saying of, “If the greatest thing you do is they know how many points you scored, they were at a game or watching on TV,” we did one thing particular. That that issues. There is inspiration there. And there may be power that’s contagious.

But then we will have these type of examples of a woman [thanking] Ayesha or the power we really feel at a playground, unveiling the place we’re reworking sequence areas throughout Oakland faculty districts. Hopefully, the cohort of children which have been impacted from a literacy perspective which can be going to be appreciative of the chance to excel and obtain their full potential as a result of they had been in a position to learn.

Families feeling, hopefully, somewhat little bit of stress aid on assets which can be out there to their youngsters. All that stuff goes to matter method past something I did in a jersey. So that’s me and Ayesha, our total Eat. Learn. Play. roster. That’s what we satisfaction ourselves in, in numerous methods. It’s why the work issues a lot.

The Warriors franchise while you received drafted was value $450 million. It’s now value, they are saying, $11 billion. When you concentrate on that, how a lot satisfaction do you will have in constructing that? It’s not value that with out what you’ve achieved.

I perceive that. It is a tremendous symptom of simply worrying about successful and constructing a normal of a tradition and group that prides itself in life. Good issues stored popping out of that. And that’s collectively — upstairs within the entrance workplace, our teaching workers, our roster, all of the totally different teammates that I sequence with. We’ve been in a position to set up that for a really, very very long time, in addition to taking part in in a tremendous a part of the world that has embraced us because the Bay Area’s basketball roster for six, seven many years now.

So, it’s type of loopy simply to assume that that’s type of the results of all of it. But no person ever is — most likely solely [Warriors principal owner] Joe [Lacob] is pondering like, “I’ll buy it for this and it’s going to turn into that.” But for us to conquer after which that be the byproduct … I don’t ever discuss [the franchise net worth] as a result of I can’t take part in it. But it’s additionally the thought of, yeah, it’s a results of nice issues, nice individuals dedicated to successful. And I’m positive that’ll be part of our collective story when it’s all mentioned and achieved.

I solely met [former Warriors owner] Chris Cohan one time at throughout a roster image of my rookie 12 months. And then I didn’t know actually about valuations or something. … And I heard that we might get bought for $450 million. I used to be like, “Oh, that’s a number. Somebody wants to buy for that?” And then there was a bidding battle between Joe and Larry Ellison from Oracle. So, the whole lot occurred for a purpose. It’s type of nice to see the entire transformation.

Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA author for Andscape. He used to have the ability to dunk on you, however he hasn’t been in a position to in years and his knees nonetheless damage.