Stephen Curry recently did a tell-all interview with the San Francisco Standard about his present and future. One of the topics brought up by the interviewer was the possibility of LeBron James and Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors, something they reportedly tried before the trade deadline. Curry simply claimed that you can never say never but didn’t expect to play with them anytime soon.
“As you’ve seen recently, this league is crazy. So you never say never. I think it’s funny now because we have our Team USA picture, where all three of us [are together]. It’s nice for a nice headline. But again, I guess everything is possible and nothing is possible all at the same time in this league. I loved my experience playing with them, for sure. But this isn’t fantasy basketball, either. You kind of have to be reasonable.”
The Golden State Warriors did make approaches towards Kevin Durant during the trade window. However, Durant turned down the opportunity, seemingly because of his strained relationship with Draymond Green during his first stint with the Warriors. Green seemingly took a shot at Durant when rumors of the failed move went viral.
As for LeBron James, there were some rumors that the Lakers would be open to trading him once they pulled off a massive move sending Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic. With Doncic being much younger than LeBron James, the Lakers could have quickly pivoted into rebuilding around Luka in the months to come.
However, the Los Angeles Lakers were adamant about keeping LeBron James and having him mentor Luka Doncic over the years to come.
It is unlikely that LeBron or Durant will join the Golden State Warriors in the years to come. The salaries that three stars all earn are going to be too much for any team to reasonably build a team around.
Steve Kerr Praises Stephen Curry
In the same article, Steve Kerr spoke about how understanding Stephen Curry is when it comes to the future of the Golden State Warriors and making sure that the franchise has a shot at rebuilding years after his departure. Kerr added that Curry is a unique superstar in that respect, as not many others would be willing to do so.
“I can’t think of anybody who could handle a situation like this with the dignity and grace that Steph has. But he also understands the responsibility that comes from if you want to be a Warrior for life, and that’s a big part of his goal for his career: He wants to be in one place, then it doesn’t come without some sacrifices.”
“If he looked at this in a more transactional matter, maybe he’d be asking those guys to do stuff or maybe he’d be asking for a trade. But he understands the value of the relationship and being in one place forever. He watched Kobe do it and Tim Duncan and Reggie Miller. There’s a lot of gratification and meaning in that.”
Stephen Curry wants to remain a Warrior for life, but he doesn’t want it to come at the cost of competing for an NBA championship. In the same interview, Curry declared that he didn’t want his final years in the NBA to end like Kobe Bryant’s final years with the Lakers ended a few years ago.
