Stephen Curry ranks as the NBA’s highest-paid player.
He will earn $59.61 million next season alone, having topped the league’s salary rankings since the 2017-18 season.
Stephen Curry deserves this distinction as one of the past decade’s best players, earning two MVP awards and four championships as the Warriors’ cornerstone.
The greatest shooter in basketball history warrants his position atop the salary list.
Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesBob Myers reveals Stephen Curry never complained about his underpaid salary
However, Curry’s path to becoming the highest-paid player wasn’t straightforward.
Unlike many stars receiving max deals after their rookie contracts expire, Curry signed a four-year, $11 million extension in 2012.
Former Warriors General Manager Bob Myers recently explained that Curry never complained or suggested the franchise undervalued him despite the widely criticized deal.
“When Stephen Curry signed his extension for $11m a year for four years, everybody said that was one of the biggest underpays,” Myers explained.
“Guess how many times Steph brought up his contract, privately or publicly in four years?”
“To this day, zero. And it’s not a coincidence this guy has succeeded in his entire life. It all goes back to that belief, integrity, and doing all the right things,” he added.
Ankle injury concerns led Stephen Curry to prioritize financial security back in 2012
When signing that extension, Curry was recovering from ankle injury problems that limited him to just 22 games during the 2011-12 season.
He prioritized financial security despite many believing he was underpaid relative to his contributions to the Warriors.
The Warriors benefited enormously from that team-friendly deal.
The below-market extension enabled Golden State to construct their dynasty by retaining core players Klay Thompson and Draymond Green while clearing necessary cap space to sign Kevin Durant in 2016.
Curry’s willingness to accept below-market value directly facilitated the Warriors’ championship run.