Steph Curry admits he doesn’t know what to make of the abrupt ending to the Golden State Warriors season.
The Warriors became the first team in NBA history to be eliminated by the No. 9 seed, losing both games in the newly instituted play-in tournament and failing to make it into the playoff bracket. After Friday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Curry spoke out about the way the season ended and the uncertain future for Golden State.
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Curry In New Territory
The Warriors fell to the Grizzlies in overtime on Friday, losing 117-112 after blowing a chance to win in regulation when Draymond Green’s runner failed to find the mark. After the game, Curry told reporters that he wasn’t sure how to process the end of the season.
“I have no idea,” Curry said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “This is very unfamiliar territory, obviously with the play-in and this being the end of the season. Very tough way to end it with these two games coming down to the wire and us giving it everything we had in the tank. Proud of every single person in the Oakland uniform tonight and all season.”
Though the season ended in disappointing fashion, with the Warriors going down to the wire first against the Los Angeles Lakers in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup and then falling to the Grizzlies in overtime, Curry said it was still an impressive season. He pointed out that the team was coming off just a 15-win season in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign, and suffered a host of injuries this year including one to Klay Thompson that kept him from setting foot on the floor once.
The Warriors owe Steph Curry more. https://t.co/57dh4ZOcFo pic.twitter.com/K9RtT4GWTx
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) May 22, 2021
“It’s a very tough way to go out,” he said. “We would love to be playing on Sunday, but we can’t lose sight of the big picture in terms of where people had us at the beginning of the season, what we were dealt with in injuries, youth, inexperience, lineup changes all year. And we’re two fourth quarters away from being a seventh or eighth seed. So it’s weird, all the way around.”
Warriors Look to Bounce Back
The Warriors are looking to jump back into title contention next season with the expected return of Thompson and the possibility of taking a high draft pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of last year’s D’Angelo Russell trade.
But the Warriors also face an uncertain future beyond next season. Though both the team and Curry have hinted at a contract extension, the two-time MVP will be entering the final year of his max contract after having turned down the chance to sign a three-year extension last offseason. And though he played well enough to make the final three for league MVP again this season, Curry will be 34 at the conclusion of next season.
Steph Curry and Draymond Green combined for 25 turnovers in the play-in games. pic.twitter.com/l0mQd6Ui8E
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 22, 2021
After Friday’s loss, Green said the team will need some retooling before getting back into contention.
“In order to win a championship, you’ve got to be in the playoffs,” Green said, via The Ringer. “So we’re clearly a ways away. A few tweaks here and there and we’re not that far, but right now we’re a ways away because we are not in the playoffs.”
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