For years, it seemed like Stephen Curry would unquestionably remain with the Golden State Warriors for the entirety of his basketball career. As the face of the franchise and inarguably its greatest player, he was synonymous with the team and had found success at every level.
But after a slow couple of years, the 2025-26 season has been an abject disaster for them. As the team continues to toil away in the Play-In, veteran analyst Kevin O’Connor believes the two-time MVP may have given the basketball world a hint about where his mindset currently is regarding a potential change in scenery.
Could Stephen Curry Actually Leave the Golden State Warriors?
Revolutionizing the sport as we know it, Curry brought forward the popularity of the 3-ball, making it a necessary staple of modern NBA offenses. But his success has extended far beyond the game’s holistic impact.
The only unanimous MVP in league history, his gravity and unreal shot-making helped supercharge the Warriors’ dynasty, which led to five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and four championships for the core over a 10-year window.
But since their last hurrah in 2022, the team has struggled to even make it to the playoffs, routinely ending up in the Play-In. This year, with a sub-.500 record, the situation is worse than ever, especially as the former Finals MVP remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Recently, he was asked about a potential move to the Charlotte Hornets, where his father, Dell Curry, spent a decade and had his jersey retired with the franchise. Even though he didn’t give a definitive answer, O’Connor believes the 12-time All-Star may have said enough.
“Did Stephen Curry accidentally admit that he’s thinking about leaving the Warriors?” O’Connor asked. “I’m surprised this isn’t more of a story because Stephen Curry is basically saying, ‘Hey, if I played for the Hornets, could I wear your No. 30?’ It’s an admission that he’s thought about it, and that’s something.”
The Hornets, even though they are also in the Play-In, seem to be in a much better position than the Warriors. Not only do they have a better record, but they have been on a surge since the turn of the calendar and have an intriguing young core, including Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.
The addition of Curry could be a meteoric leap forward for the organization as a whole, which has failed to attract any superstars throughout its existence. It remains to be seen if such a league-shaking move would actually go down.
But his words have at least opened the door of possibility in that direction.
