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.
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.
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.
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.
Of course he looks up to Kobe. He would have 5 chamionships but only 2 finals MVP’s just like sidekick Kobe.
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.
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???