Ten years ago, Stephen Curry signed (perhaps) “the most lucrative contract in history.”

Before becoming the best shooting guard of all time, a two-time MVP, a four-time NBA champion, a Finals MVP and (for some) the best point guard in history, Stephen Curry fought hard. The fault of a dodgy ankle, for example, forced him to miss 40 games (out of a possible 66) during his third year with the team. Warriors.

At the time, many doubted the fragile “Baby-Faced Killer”‘s ability to lead the Bay franchise. Despite the risk, Golden State executives still insisted on extending him at $44 million over four years to avoid testing the market. free agent Preserved in the summer of 2013. Today, it’s just less than what he earns per season ($48 million in 2022/23)!

With that first extension initialed on October 31st, 2012, Halloween and the start of the regular season, Stephen Curry would unknowingly change the face of the NBA, and above all, the trajectory of the Warriors. To the point of considering his own contract ” the most profitable in history From the NBA…

“ A year later, it was already the worst in the history of professional sports “Draymond Green will obviously guess. ” But for the Warriors, it was clearly the best possible deal. »

Thanks to him, a dynasty was born

Indeed, as he did not re-sign for max with Dubs, Stephen Curry changed sizes. Averaged almost 23 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals in the 2012/13 season, but above all, he exploded in the eyes of everyone with 78 games played (out of a possible 82). Both in the regular season (including 54 points at Madison Square Garden) and in the playoffs (loss against the Spurs in the conference semifinals).

In the 2013/14 season, “Steph” improved further (averaging 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.6 steals over 78 games), eventually becoming an All-Star and still playing for Golden State. – managed in the off (fight against the opponent in the first round). Clippers). By this famous training 2014/15, he definitely entered the (very) big field …

Stephen Curry, who was named the MVP of the regular season and became the NBA champion at the behest of Steve Kerr, not Mark Jackson, thus began to rise to the top of the league and the history books, as he later won three more rings ( 2017, 2018, 2022), the Finals MVP title (2022 ), another MVP trophy (2016, unanimous!), two high-scoring titles (2016, 2021), and multiple All-Star Game or All-NBA Team selections.

But beyond his individual and collective performances, the Warriors’ iconic leader indirectly allowed his franchise to build a true dynasty thanks to his (modest) contract extension in the fall of 2012. Thanks to him, their leaders actually re-signed Klay Thompson and Draymond Green at high prices in the summer of 2016 when they brought in Kevin Durant…

The maneuvers were made possible thanks to the approximately $10-12 million that Stephen Curry received annually between 2013 and 2017. Because even before he became a two-time MVP and established himself as the highest paid player in the league, he was long out of the team. The top 50 NBA earners, due to the explosion salary cap. So much so that he was the 82nd highest paid basketball player in the league in the 2016/17 season!

Financially, he later improved…

Ultimately, like a good leader, a very humble and now solid Stephen Curry chose to set an example for his teammates rather than brooding in his own corner, thinking about all the money he could have made at the time.

” I immediately tried to lay certain foundations in my state of mind, and after that I never negotiated with myself, never doubted myself, never returned to the moment saying to myself “I would have to, I could, I would.” ‘, because that’s not how life works “, judged a key stakeholder, when asked to reframe the story.

To put things into perspective, Stephen Curry modeled his father Dell’s career.

” $44 million over four years was more than anything my dad ever made in the NBA “, he explained in this regard. ” I know how much the league has grown in all this time, but it was already good money. I supported my family and was very confident, but I just wanted to be healthy. So instead of thinking about what I was leaving on the table, I focused on that. »

Especially now that we can say that Stephen Curry made up for it after that, as he managed to hit the jackpot in 2017 ($201 million over five years) and then in 2021 ($215 million). Two XXL contract extensions at the end of the 2025/26 season that allow him to earn just over… $470 million in career earnings!