Stephen Curry Takes Less Than Max, Signs 2-Year, $116M Deal With Warriors
Curry could have pushed Golden State for something closer to $136 million. Instead he left money on the table to keep the front office flexible — and to make sure he retires in the only jersey he's ever worn.
Stephen Curry and the Warriors have agreed to a two-year extension worth $116 million, a deal that keeps the 38-year-old in Golden State through the 2028-29 season — what would be his 20th year in the league, all of it with the same franchise. The number itself is notable mostly for what it isn't: Curry was in position to ask for something in the neighborhood of $136 million and didn't.
Curry's new deal runs through the 2028-29 season, when he'll be 40.
Curry's salary actually goes down before it goes back up — from $62.6 million next season to $55.7 million in 2027-28, then a $60.2 million player option for 2028-29. Structuring it that way is what hands Golden State roughly $10 million in extra projected cap room next summer.
Why Curry Left Money on the Table
This isn't the first time Curry has taken less than he could have gotten elsewhere, and it won't be the last. He's said for years that he wants to finish his career in Golden State, and this contract is the clearest proof yet that it wasn't just a talking point. Giving back roughly $20 million relative to his max isn't a small gesture at this stage of a career — it's the kind of number that changes what the front office can actually do around him.
What It Buys the Warriors
Cap space doesn't mean much in the abstract, but roughly $10 million extra heading into next summer gives Golden State real options: a stronger offer in free agency, more flexibility to take on salary in a trade, or simply more breathing room around Curry, Draymond Green and whatever the roster looks like by the time this deal actually kicks in. None of that guarantees another title. It does mean the front office isn't boxed in the way a max-money extension would have left them.
The Bigger Picture for Golden State
At 38, Curry is closer to the end of his career than the middle of it, and this extension is really a bet that the Warriors can keep building a competitive roster around him for two more seasons rather than a bet that he'll still be an MVP-level player in 2028. Whether that bet pays off depends almost entirely on what Golden State does with the space this deal just created.
Follow how the Warriors use their new cap flexibility over the coming months in our NBA Games hub, updated with scores and news all season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Stephen Curry's new contract with the Warriors?
Curry's extension is worth $116 million over two years, running through the 2028-29 season with a player option in the final year.
Did Stephen Curry take a discount to stay with Golden State?
Yes. Curry was eligible for up to roughly $136 million on a new deal and signed for $116 million instead, freeing up extra cap space for the Warriors.
How does the extension affect the Warriors' salary cap?
The discounted terms give Golden State an estimated $10 million in additional projected cap space next summer to use in free agency or a trade.
