Stephen Curry knows that the Warriors will not enter next season as the championship favorites, but his aspirations remain firmly set on the title, writes Julian Ojeda of ClutchPoints.
“I truly believe we can be championship relevant,” Curry says. “We have a team that’s capable of achieving that level again… I think it’s realistic to build towards that.”
The 37-year-old has had a reflective summer, which has involved taking stock of what’s left to accomplish and how attainable those goals might be. In the end, it all comes back to one thing: a shot at adding a fifth ring to his collection.
The list of stars to lead their teams to five championships is an esteemed one, featuring players like Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, and Kobe Bryant.
“I think for me that’s literally the only thing I’m playing for at this point,” Curry said.
The Warriors saw a great deal of success following their trade for Jimmy Butler, going 22-5 in games in which both Butler and Curry played. Curry averaged 24.5 points and 6.0 assists per game last season while shooting 39.7% from three and 93.3% from the free throw line.
The scoring rate was his lowest in a full year since 2014/15; however, once Butler joined the team, Curry averaged 27.3 PPG and made 40.8% of his three-point attempts for the rest of the regular season.
The Warriors beat the Rockets in seven games in the first round of the playoffs, but lost to the Timberwolves in five games in the second round after Curry got injured 13 minutes into Game 1.
He has almost every award available. Just one more championship.
link to nbaanalysis.net
Need a good return on Kuminga. To have a real shot at another chip.
Also needs to have very few injuries to the starting 5. Injuries will tell how far they go.
> Need a good return on Kuminga. To have a real shot at another chip.
Dunleavey has basically said this at least twice since the end of the season, with one difference that folks here won’t take seriously, but whatever. Dunleavey has said that the Warriors need more than Steph, Jimmy and Draymond, which means that either, one, they figure out how to get more from JK or, two, that they get something substantial for JK in return.
In the first interview, shortly after the season, Dunleavey also said that the right time for a trade was near the trade deadline, not in the summer, because that’s the time that the Warriors will know what they need and when better deals are available.
Some folks here may not take seriously that Dunleavey and Lacob hope for an outcome where Kuminga succeeds as a Warrior, but, IMO, they intend to try.
aristotle — what Kerr or the owner or the basketball gods say about Kuminga. Doesn’t mean a thing anymore. He is about to sign his QO. Something the team wants him to do. For the same reasons I have been posting since the season ended. Warriors don’t want to go over first apron. Cause they want to sign Horford and Melton. Kuminga wants no part of Warriors or Kerr. It is over lol. Warriors asking him to give up his Bitd rights. Is basically stabbing him in the back. On his way out. This relationship is OVER. So all that is left. Make sure you sign Horford and Melton. Oct 1st Kuminga will sign a QO 7.9 mill. Then they will trade him before season starts. It isn’t smart going into season with disgruntled player. You have been screwing for last two yrs. Warriors will settle on Horford, Melton, and what Kuminga trade brings back. Could be a player and a pick. Adding three players and a pick is a good return on Kuminga. That is where Warriors are now.
Very much I agree with everything you posted. Not sure if they trade before the season starts or at trade deadline. Lacob is the main factor on that. If Kuminga excells the first 2 months lacob will step in and want him signed. Does Kerr play him enough is the other factor.
So many players look up to Kobe Bryant, and rightly so. Mamba was one of the best on the floor and off the floor.
To match Kobe‘s five championships would be an amazing achievement for any player who looks up to him.
I knew when Curry won his fourth that he was going to give everything he had to get number five.
That would be a massive achievement and in Curry’s mind would put him in the conversation of top 15 or 20 players ever.
Without that fifth ring, it’s a conversation. With five championships in his pocket, he’s guaranteed top 15 or 20 of all time.
Gary, Steph is already in the convo for Top 10 of all-time. (Not my opinion, just look around at all the conversation.)
Kobe was great, but he was #2 to Shaq on his first 3 titles. Steph has already won 2 titles without another superstar on his team. IMO, winning a 3rd with the current roster (a 5th total) would push him into the top 7.
Absolutely not.
Top seven? There is no way a player, no matter how extraordinary on one side of the ball he is, can be a top seven all-time with the type of defense Curry plays.
I think that’s a slap in the face of Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and many many others who were 25 points a game scorers, but also premium defensive players.
Oscar Robertson? Jerry West? These guys scored 30 and played defense as well.
Ari you’re off base here. It’s rare, but this is one of those times where the current day has fogged up your memory of the past.
Gary, in fact, I completely agree with your argument that being a 2-way player is a requirement. I made that case myself for years, but I’ve gotten so used to people rejecting it that nowadays I just refer to the popular rankings that everyone else uses that are almost solely based on winning titles.
My own list would definitely have Kareem, Wilt, Russell, Hakeem, and Shaq ahead of Steph because of their all-around skills.
That said, there has to be some recogniion for leading a team to a Championship, and when you do it almost singlehandedly (as Steph had done twice), that is the biggest achievement possible. And Steph’s leadership may be his least appreciated attribute.
In all, I cannot place Oscar or West ahead of Steph.
No real basketball fan ever forgets its history. Great players of today should only make you appreciate. The accomplishments of the past. Its a 2way sport that hasn’t changed dramatically. People act like they have never seen shooting before.
ari, And a couple rings “by himself?”
Klay Thompson is one of the greatest shooters in the history of the NBA.
He’s Pretty handy to have on the wing when your opponent is considering double teaming you.
@Gary: aristotle is a self-appointed expert on literally every topic and refuses to admit he’s ever wrong about anything.
I agree with you, though. Curry is an amazing scorer and the best pure shooter of all-time, but I think he’s more in the 11-20 range than top 10. Jordan, James, Magic, Bird, Kareem, Wilt, Duncan, Russell, Shaq, Hakeem are all ahead of Steph in my book. Oscar, West, and even Jokic are probably ahead as well. Just my list and I’m sure I’m forgetting someone.
> aristotle is a self-appointed expert on literally
> every topic and refuses to admit he’s ever
> wrong about anything.
@rct, If I’ve given you that impression, I’ve got work to do. I engage with @GRSW often, and he’s right more often than I am. He’s changed my mind about a bunch of things.
You’re always kinder to me than I deserve ari !!
Gary, you’ve earned the persona of the “grand old man” for GSW fans on HoopsRumors — welcoming all and straightening out the offenders.
Can’t really dispute your top ten. All worthy. 5 centers, and Duncan, is a lot of bigs. But I think Curry, like Jordan, changed the game in a significant way. And I mean the way that players play the game, and aspired to play basketball, was influenced by those two more than the other players on your list. There’s before, and after, for both Jordan and Curry. They changed the way the game is played.
We used to say that Bob Cousy changed the way point guards play and then there was Pete Maravich (who according to some whiz at ESPN) hit at average 7 shots from behind the current 3-point line). I love watching Curry in today’s NBA. I don’t easily compare players from different eras, but Oscar and Jerry were dominant.
JBS, I agree with you on everything and yes, Curry has changed the game about as much as Wilt Chamberlain did.
That is saying a lot because the league changed rules because of Wilt.
I’m with you. I think Curry has had as great an impact and MAYBE EVEN MORE SO on basketball as a whole and globally.
But change does not necessarily equal a high ranking on the scale of all-time greats.
Rings matter and play on the floor matters.
Sure “impact on the game” matters and Curry is number one in that category all-time hands-down.
Top 20 players all time? Yes Curry is in that conversation but would solidify it with a fifth ring.
Curry is definitely one of best shooters ever. Reason is how he gets it off his shot. Jerry West the Logo never had the three point shot. Yet his stats are right there with any shooter or scorer. Chk it out lol.
link to basketball-reference.com
Of course, it’s subjective, but, IMO, none of the current top 15 players on any of the popular lists I’m looking at, with the exception of Olajuwon, won titles with a weaker #2 player than Steph did in 2015 and 2022 (when, IMO, Steph did it all by himself). It’s usually very difficult to win a title without being surrounded by stars or another superstar.
Let’s call Klay his #2. Klay was an All-Star player in 2015, and a top 125 player in 2022. Draymond hadn’t emerged yet as an offensive force in 2025. In 2022, Andrew Wiggins (yikes) was the #2 guy. In 2022, Vegas preseason on GSW winning title was 2000 to 1.
– In the 2 years Kobe won without Shaq, Pau Gasol was 2nd team All-NBA. Plus Bynum, Odom, Artest to make a loaded lineup.
– MJ (Pippen, Rodman), Magic, Kareem, Russell, Bird all won their titles with multiple All-Stars on each team. All squads loaded compared to 2015 and 2022 Dubs.
– Oscar won once, with Kareem and 3 other All-Stars.
– Duncan won 4 Chips with at least 2 of David Robinson, Elliott, Ginobili, Parker, Kahwi on every team.
– West won once, with Chamberlain, Goodrich and Elgin Baylor.
Klay was an all star 5 times, Rodman twice. If your using that to somehow have Steph anywhere near MJ your tripping b@llz. Durant 2x Finals MVP and a former MVP. MJ never played with a former MVP. Bogut all nba defensive team as was Draymond multiple times as well as defensive player of the year yet you only speak of Draymond not have his offensive game then, lols. Iggy, a finals MVP and multiple time all star as was David West. Even David Lee had been an all star, NO? MJ 6X, undefeated in the finals beat more 60 win teams in the playoffs than anyone. Ruined more top 75 players in the history of the game and it isnt even close. Three championship Bulls runs knocked two 60 plus teams on the head on route to a chip during those three separate title runs. Steph give up a 3-1 lead. Robinson was old as the Hills, Duncan was the man on that team. You have selective memory when it comes to your Warriors. To say those Warriors teams weren’t as stacked is hilarious.
MJ has more 40 point games than LeBron, Steph and Wade combined, lols. In a time much harder to score.
@nrg82, I agree with you: the teams with KD were ridiculously stacked, but my point is that the first (2015) and last (2022) Warriors title teams were not stacked, and heavily dependent on Steph.
1. The 2022 team without Steph, was, arguably, the weakest roster to win a title in the last 50 years. Klay was a shell of his old self. When Steph won Finals MVP, for the first time in his career, there was conversation about him being a Top 10 player. Before that, he was Top 15.
2. The 2015 team was good, but believe you over-estimate the supporting cast. Draymond was in his 3rd year, and hadn’t emerged offensively yet (still only 3 APG and shooting poorly). David Lee was a (deep) bench player, mostly injured. Bogut was a defensive specialist that played less than half the games, and never finished. Iggy came off the bench. It was still a very vulnerable team without MVP Steph, though, as we saw in the series against Memphis.
The Warriors took a huge step forward in the 2016 year, where they won 73 games, when they lost to Cleveland in the Finals, . That was the year Draymond made a huge leap forward.
That first team was stacked man….perfect blend of quality youth and vets. Also the best coaching Kerr has ever done. To say that team isn’t stacked and Steph practically won said rings himself is down right nasty and a LeBron thing to do.
Steph….MVP perennial all star, all NBA.
Klay is a top 5 shooter of time, perennial all star. All nba few times. All nba Defensive team.
West made a few all star teams.
Lee made a few all star teams.
Iggy a perennial all star. 6th man of the year and a finals MVP.
Bogut All nba defensive team that year.
Draymond a multiple time all star, all nba couple of times. 9x defensive all NBA. Multiple time defensive player of the year.
That’s more than quite a handy seven guys I would say. That team was absolutely stacked when you put things in context.
People need to stop using the GOAT for a leg up or example. It never works any which way you look at it.
First three peat MJ played with Pip. Most other teams they played in the playoffs had two all stars and twice out of said three peat that team beat a pair of sixty win teams for the chip.
To say Steph did it alone and others had more help, especially MJ, is outrageous. Don’t get me wrong I love Pippen but even that guy got the yipes and disappeared or pulled a no show quite a bit throughout his career.
Meanwhile second three peat MJ didn’t even have a point guard and had Luc Longley as his centre, backed up by Bill Wennington, lols.
nrg82, I’m trying to respond to accurate interpretations of what you said to me, please try to do the same.
I’m not comparing Steph to MJ. And I’m talking about Draymond in his 3rd year, not in his career.
I was there. (Maybe you were, too.) I don’t know anybody that calls the 2014-15 team “stacked”. It was MVP Steph and everyone else, and It was a very young team that “broke through” that year. Starters Draymond and Barnes were in their 3rd year, Klay was in his 4th. Winning the Chip was belittled by otheeabecause of injuries to their playoff opponents — Holiday and Evans with the Pelicans, Connelly with the Memphis, Love and Kyrie with the Cavs.
The 2015-16 team was a giant step up. All the young players, especially Draymond, improved. That’s when the dynasty talk started, even though they lost to the Cavs.
Al, let’s skip the basketball platitudes and bring it back to the discussion at hand. In 2022, Steph made a huge leap forward on the All-time great lists when his transcendent play led a mediocre team to a title.
The 2022 Warriors were unimpressive Steph Curry. They were 2000-to-1 longshots to win the title. They finished 4th in the West. Klay was no longer an All-Star player. The rest were basically role players.
If GSW wins in 2025, it’ll likely be taken the same way: a generational player on an otherwise mediocre team met the moment.
.
Look at the achievements of the guys on that first title team….I am responding to your interpretation of Steph single handedly taking warriors to a ring while simultaneously mentioning other all time greats had loads of help. Every team that wins is extremely good and ever star needs and does have help for sure. Steph is no different and most definitely didn’t single handedly lead that team to a chip is all’s I’m saying.
@nrg82
Did someone say Steph was “close to MJ”? I must have missed thet.
And claiming the ’96-98 Bulls didn’t have a point guard is weird, Harper, Kerr and Brown were all PGs.
Harper was a shooting guard is whole career before Chicago. Kerr was a bench guy, in and out of the rotation. Brown a third string PG. maybe your comprehensive is a little off. My point is Steph didn’t single handedly lead that extremely good warriors team to a chip.
Lol Iggy made an all star team once in his career. “Perennial all star” Nice trolling. Iggy was a bench player who was luckily awarded the FMVP in 2015, like FMVP is not a subjective award. Curry led Warriors in points and assists. Had more points, assists and steals than Iggy in the finals and same number of rebounds. Curry should have won FMVP in 2015.
Lee and West were all stars only twice in their careers. They were role players at best. Seriously, what are you on about?😅
Lol MJ had Rodman for his second three peat. Rodman was a perennial all defensive, 2 time champion, 2 time DPOY, one of the greatest rebounders of all time. Without him, the second three peat doesn’t happen. Even in The Last Dance documentary it was mentioned they needed good interior defense and rebounding after Grant left Bulls for Magic.
And lets not forget Hall of Famer Toni Kukoc on that second three peat Bulls.
All true and you’re still missing the point. To say Steph did it all by himself is crazy. Especially insinuating other like MJ had all this help had much more help. Kukoc was 6th man of the yr too and all star after his bulls days. Six all stars on that first title winning team. So miss me with this did himself BS.
Steph, Klay, Iggy, West, Green, Lee all stars. And Bugut all defensive that year.
Now you warriors fans are bashing Wiggins to suit your BS narrative too…wasn’t he an all star. Yeah all Steph…..pppfffttt.
Iggy, West and Lee were role players. Being an all star once or twice in their career doesn’t make them anymore than role players. Wiggins, his only all star appearance, is a solid role player at best. And I never said Curry did all by himself. Nobody has. Klay and Green were drafted. So Curry can’t even have drafted players? Lol.
And Kukoc is a Hall of Famer. He was similar to Ginobili and was an important part of of that second three peat Bulls.
— aristotle — 🙏
Champions are special. And there are many reasons why they win. Not just the so called stars. Not about counting how many Chips they have. Sonics and Bullets won two of most unprecedented chips ever. Knicks run in 69 is historic for a reason. Bulls had one of deepest teams ever. But they don’t win as many without Phil. Phil who learned his offense playing with Knicks. An offense that comes from Celtics run. You think Bulls or Spurs win without Kerr. Who was a nobody. Till he got to teams that gave him Open Looks. You try too hard lol.
Respect the Game ……. Its not about you or what you can look up.
And Baylor never won a Chip. He retired the year Lakers beat Knicks.
Gary, I’m trying to call attention to the (first) 2014 and (last) 2022 chips only, but especially the last. Much weaker teams than the others.
Here’s my all-time top 10 that will only age like a fine wine as all the haters hatred of it will prove once and for all you don’t know ball:
1. Curry
2. Wilt
3. Jordan
4. Kareem
5. Lebron
6. Shaq
7. Kobe
8. Duncan
9. Magic
10. (open to KD, Jokic, Giannis, Bill Russell, Bird, Stockton, Hakeem, Jerry West, Dirk, soon Wemby)
Of course he looks up to Kobe. He would have 5 chamionships but only 2 finals MVP’s just like sidekick Kobe.
Darren, not quite sure what your point is? There’s only 12 guys in the history of the NBA that have two or more finals MVPs?
So if you’re using that criteria then Steph Curry getting 1 more would automatically put him in the eight through 12 range just by that fact alone?
I take it you don’t have a favorable opinion on either Kobe Bryant, or the Lakers? Looking at things subjectively may be a weak point of yours?
You’re nuts if you think Steph isn’t already a top 15-20 guy
philliesfan, Pretty loose with the lips. Let’s put your basketball knowledge of all time greats to the test OK?
Where would you rank Jerry West on the scale of one through 50?
Your answer to that question will tell me everything.
Then we’ll also see why being so loose with the lips and saying someone is “nuts” may not be quite the proper protocol without proper knowledge of what one is writing about.
Jerry West is a top 15 player ever? The fact you’d even put through 50 is laughable
Thank you that’s all I need to know.
No, come on. Elaborate on how right or wrong I am.
The fact of the matter is where I rank West doesn’t determine where Curry falls in the all time ranking regardless.
There is people whose opinions on basketball are far more respected than GaryRedSoxxWarriors who would agree.
I would agree
Jerry West absolutely should be in everyone’s top 25 at minimum, he’s the logo for a good reason.
Gary, The 2021 “NBA 75th Anniversary Team” seems like the best reference. It was “selected by a blue-ribbon panel of current and former NBA players, coaches, general managers and team and league executives, sportswriters and broadcasters.” The league didn’t officially rank the 75 on release, but the voting information they released enabled a ranking. FWIW, in 2021:
– Klay and Draymond are not on the list of 75
67. Rodman
32. Pippen
19. Jerry West
16. Curry
9. Oscar Robertson
The list was made before the 2022 Championship, Steph’s biggest achievement. I looked at 3 more current lists (all using a smaller pool of current NBA media), and these have Steph in the 8-11 range. West isn’t in the top 15 on any of the lists.
As you’d no doubt argue, there is definitely “recency bias” in these current lists. Oscar Robinson has dropped at least 4 slots on all the lists. Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Shaq are also dropping. Kobe is moving up, despite not having played any games, as is KD, despite obvious decline.
He wants 5th because that would make him the winningest player of his generation, ahead of LeBron
So time to jump to a new team if you want one more ring. There’s no chance at a ring with the Warriors in the near future.
> So time to jump to a new team if you want one
> more ring.
Which team(s) are you thinking?
OKC looks like the prohibitive favorite for the duration of Steph’s career. Can you suggest a plausible trade for Steph (the other team has to give something up) that would make the other team better than OKC?
With Steph and Jimmy and Draymond, the Warriors have the same distant chance as any team other than OKC.
nobody wants to see Jordan on the wizards.
Did you…not watch last season? Curry was doing 2022 things until his hammy tore. All Curry needs to win is a healthy Curry in the playoffs.
It WOULD be nice if his team gave him every opportunity to win, but that means moving on from Kerr, who is washed up and does not know how to win games without Steph, or develop players. Plenty of other guys out there can do that.
GSW still has the best big 3 in the league no matter what you think. They can also trade Jimmy and/or Draymond for depth if that becomes an obvious thing they need.
Many people would envy Stephs career, but its also kind of tragic that 4 rings isn’t “enough”. You know no level of success will ever be enough. Just hope the guy can find peace…these things can break people down and it gets ugly
It’s not enough when you only have 1 finals MVP and got carried to a championship by a washed up Iguodala.
At least he didn’t need to go the LeBron route and jump team to team to win a championship but ends up with 3 and a half.
Yeah but look what he did to his “best friend” klay Thomson as if he couldn’t speak up and keep him on the team. Dont tell me that
Huh???
Klay was not his best friend. Klay already told Curry he was leaving and do not ask management to sign him. Thompson wanted out so Curry did what Thompson asked him to do liek a friend would.
Yeah…i believe everything publicists who get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to spin narratives and make celebrities look good too..a friend is a friend. Curry looks out for himself. That’s what it takes, but don’t paint him as some great guy
That came from Thompson directly that he told Curry and Green do not ask warriors to keep him. He wanted a fresh new start and didn’t like coming off the bench.
And you believe curry has no influence over who he plays with? Klay could have stayed.
He could have stayed but he didn’t want to stay. Why do you dislike Curry so much? Its like blaming LeBron for the lakers trading AD.
I don’t dislike curry. And yeah, the LeBron thing stinks. But based on how they team is treating him I’m not sure if he had the control he thought. Then again he very well could have hung his friend out to dry. I’d believe it. Only difference is LeBron has always been a mercenary. Steph pays to have a sparkling image but IN HIS OWN WORDS all he cares about is winning. That’s fine. Great. Thats what it takes.
Yeah, everyone knows Giannis is Curry’s best friend.
Revisionist history at its finest. You can’t seriously believe the hate you post.
Along with underachieving Wiggins and Durant
@Darren
Lol, he carried Iguodala, silly
Bro this isn’t 2k. Andre carried Curry
Andre carried Curry is something a Curry hater would say. Ibn MVP voting the first vote showed Curry and Andre dead even. 1 reporter changed his vote and Andre won in the 2nd voting. Its like saying Irving carried Lebron in the finals.
Not a Curry hater, just realistic. Just because Curry is more popular doesn’t mean he always plays better.
Yes Irving carried LeBron…..
Study up
You saw what happened when Curry went down against the T-wolves. The entire offense is built around Curry.
Yes arc89 I agree if Curry goes down then the team goes down. The team does revolve around Curry.
Not sure he is literally only playing for a ring.
Unless he is, in which case I know a guy who would be willing to take some of that money off his hands O_O
I think Curry’s statement had more to do with “I don’t play to win MVP or win stats titles, I play for titles only”.
Curry or Butler will have a season ending injury and as result they Warriors will bounce in R1 despite having the best coach in the league in Kerr and the worst GM.
Most teams that lose their best player gets bounced. Look at Bioston and teh warriors last year both lost their best player and got bounced.
Curry is our hero but he’s full of it. Title is NOT the only thing he plays for, c’mon! He hasnt been that way for few yrs now. He makes $100m+ in endorsements and wants max contract at 37 plus another extension again soon. Warriors is a perfect situation for him to continue to grow his business and that is his top priority. He’s still playing hard and deserves all the praises but lets be homest, lol.
Yes, he wants Warriors to go all in at teams future expense. Butler is amazing but they are still too old. That being said, Curry is happy as long as Warriors are playoff team and his business grows off the court.
I think Curry’s statement had more to do with “I don’t play to win MVP or win stats titles, I play for titles only”.
Top 10 post of the year.
Sometimes being delusional isnt all that bad, but he setting himself up for failure
So tell Lacob to fire Kerr then, because you aren’t winning again with his washed ahh
Jimmy B has brought back real hope to GS. As he has shown he is a good fit with Steph and Dra. You get something decent for Kuminga. Add Horford and Melton. And Warriors have a good team.
link to nbaanalysis.net