The Golden State Warriors face a looming threat that could reshape the franchise for years to come: the potential departure of Stephen Curry.
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Curry — who holds a player option for the 2027-28 season that would make him a free agent — could seriously consider leaving the only NBA team he has ever known if the Warriors fail to deliver a legitimate chance at a fifth championship in the 2026-27 campaign.
“I don’t see it [Curry leaving], but never say never. We’ve seen stranger things in the league,” Amick told FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” on Friday. While expressing skepticism about an exit, Amick acknowledged the possibility, particularly if Golden State remains a fringe playoff team.
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The veteran reporter, who has covered Curry extensively, highlighted the four-time champion’s enduring competitive fire. Despite turning 39 next March, Curry continues to perform at an elite level and shows no signs of slowing down physically — he is projected to have five more productive years ahead. However, Amick noted that Curry is increasingly frustrated with the team’s current trajectory and remains deeply motivated to chase another ring.
A Hometown Pull?
Amick even floated a intriguing hypothetical destination should Curry ever decide to move on: his hometown Charlotte Hornets. The comment stems from a lighthearted moment earlier this year during Dell Curry’s jersey retirement ceremony in Charlotte.
“He had this funny comment to a local reporter where he said if he ever came back, he thinks his dad [Dell Curry] would let him wear his number [No. 30] for Charlotte,” Amick recalled. “It was just a joke, but it was enough to go, ‘Damn. Okay.’”
While the remark was made in jest, it underscores how calculated players at Curry’s level are with public statements — and how quickly they can fuel speculation.
A Franchise at a Crossroads
The Warriors’ situation has grown increasingly precarious. The team missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons after falling in the play-in tournament, raising urgent questions about the direction of the organization as Curry enters the twilight of his historic career.
This offseason will be critical. Golden State must decide on the future of longtime head coach Steve Kerr, navigate Kristaps Porzingis’ free agency, and address player options held by key veterans including Draymond Green, Al Horford, and De’Anthony Melton.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks identified the team’s top priority clearly: building a championship-caliber roster around the 38-year-old Curry right now.
“Building a roster that can compete for a championship around a 38-year old franchise player in Curry,” Marks wrote. The challenge lies in balancing immediate contention with long-term sustainability once Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Green move on. Butler, notably, is expected to miss most of the 2026-27 season while recovering from ACL surgery, while Moses Moody will also be sidelined at the start of the campaign after tearing his left patellar tendon.
Extension Decision Looms Large
Adding pressure to the situation is Curry’s upcoming contract decision. The sharpshooter is eligible to sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension with the Warriors beginning August 29. Should he decline to ink the deal, speculation about his future in the Bay Area is certain to intensify.
For now, most expect Curry to remain loyal to the Warriors, the franchise with which he has won four titles and redefined the game with his revolutionary shooting. Yet as Amick wisely noted, “never say never” in today’s NBA. If the 2026-27 season does not yield meaningful progress toward contention, the unthinkable could become a very real possibility.
The Warriors’ front office has significant work ahead. The upcoming months will determine whether they can build a winner capable of keeping the greatest player in franchise history exactly where he belongs — in Golden State.