Rumors emerged last month that Stephen Curry could ask to leave Golden State to chase a fifth championship. Those reports gained more traction on Tuesday when Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said that if the two-time MVP wants out, “he’s earned the right to do what he wants.”
The following day, Warriors owner Joe Lacob addressed the speculation directly.
Warriors Owner Joe Lacob Shuts Down Stephen Curry Trade Request Rumors
The Warriors’ limited offseason moves to improve a roster that finished 37-45 last season fueled speculation that the four-time champion could eventually finish his career outside the Bay Area.
Lacob, speaking with NBA insider Tim Kawakami, pushed back on that narrative. The billionaire maintained that Golden State’s goal remains competing for championships and insisted that “it’s never acceptable not to be the best team we can possibly be.”
When Kawakami asked whether Curry had discussed the possibility of playing elsewhere, Lacob dismissed the idea.
“No. No. I don’t think this is even a thing. This is just a clickbait thing from all these people that do this kind of thing nowadays. There seems to be a lot of them. I don’t believe that any of that is true,” Lacob said.
“… I just don’t see any of that. I’ve never heard a word about that, and I can’t imagine that. We certainly don’t want him to go anywhere. … I just think people are completely making a bunch of crap that’s totally not true.”
Curry is on an expiring $62.6 million contract and is eligible to sign a maximum two-year, $136.7 million extension on Aug. 29. If the Warriors were to trade him, a deal could occur before the start of the 2026-27 season.
Dunleavy, however, offered a different picture of Curry’s intentions during his Tuesday interview. The executive said he remains confident that the superstar wants to finish his career in Golden State.
“There’s two things I’m confident about with Steph. He really, really wants to win, and he wants to finish his career as a Warrior. I don’t think that changes tomorrow, Aug. 29, start of the season, middle of the season, end of next season. Those things are going to be consistent,” Dunleavy said.
Lacob also acknowledged that Golden State is bringing back much of the roster that missed the playoffs last season. Still, he said the organization remains focused on competing for a championship and that he and Dunleavy are “very aggressive” in exploring ways to keep Curry’s championship window open.
For now, the message from Golden State’s leadership is clear. Curry has not asked to leave, and the Warriors remain committed to keeping their franchise centerpiece in the Bay Area.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.