Stephen Curry says his family was fully involved in his decision to accept a smaller contract extension with the Golden State Warriors, prioritizing his long-term future with the franchise over maximizing his earnings.
The four-time NBA champion recently committed to a two-year, $116 million agreement that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. Although Curry qualified for an extension worth up to $136.7 million, he chose to leave approximately $20 million on the table.
The decision provides Golden State with greater financial flexibility while keeping its longtime franchise player under contract.
Speaking with ABC7 News Bay Area, Curry was asked about his discussions with his wife, Ayesha, regarding the money he decided not to pursue.
Rather than focusing exclusively on the difference between the two potential contracts, the veteran guard acknowledged the unusual financial circumstances surrounding NBA salaries.
“That’s why sometimes I realize like, this is not a real place, the NBA, because I can also say, people like, ‘Oh, you stressed out about the decision and all that,’ and the gratitude and understanding, the numbers we’re talking about, and of course there’s team valuations and the salary cap, max numbers and all,” Curry said.
He then reflected on his earlier years in Golden State, recalling the four-year, $44 million extension he signed in 2012 and explaining that contract negotiations ultimately come down to evaluating the situation at a particular moment.
“It goes back to my very first contract, the $11 million (per season), $44 (million) that I signed. You sign contracts based on information that you have and what you feel like is right.
For Curry, remaining with the Warriors and continuing to compete with the team played an important role in reaching his latest agreement. He also made clear that Ayesha and the rest of his family shared his perspective on the decision.
“And you talked about Ayesha, my family, we, everybody’s on the same page of understanding what I have in front of me in the controllables of playing good basketball, staying with the Golden State Warriors and trying to end this thing the right way.”
