Joe Lacob and the Golden State Warriors are reportedly using Steph Curry’s loyalty to the franchise as a reason not to go all out and execute major moves to keep their contention chances even better at present.
NBA reporter Anthony Irwin dropped the claim on Lakers Lounge, comparing Curry's Warriors situation to what LeBron James similarly endured in Los Angeles.
"What I find super cynical about both the LeBron situation before and especially the Steph Curry situation is that Joe Lacob gets to use Steph Curry's loyalty against him. Eventually, LeBron said, 'All right, f**k this. I'm gone.' But it's a lot harder for Steph Curry to do that," Irwin said.
"He wants to be a lifelong Golden State Warrior. He wants to also compete for championships right up until the moment that he can no longer compete for championships. And yet, because Joe Lacob knows that Steph would prefer to remain a Golden State Warrior rather than go and chase a title somewhere else, or go play for Charlotte in his hometown, or closer to his hometown, because Lacob knows that he can hold that loyalty over Steph, guess what? He is going to continue telling his front office to do."
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Stephen Curry, Warriors facing conflict on team direction after a passive offseason
All of a sudden, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors find themselves at a crossroads on what might be next for them.
After missing out on LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kawhi Leonard while failing to sign any new face this summer, the Warriors are facing scrutiny over their desired direction heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.
Apparently, what makes the Warriors' 2026 offseason even more intriguing to monitor is Curry's looming contract-extension eligibility. While Golden State is confident they can reach a deal, murmurs are now intensifying around their future with their beloved franchise guard.
Recently, Curry was linked to the Boston Celtics, where the Eastern Conference powerhouse was pegged as a team to watch that could pursue the two-time MVP.
It is said that Warriors owner Joe Lacob is now more focused on building Golden State under the post-Stephen Curry era.