It’s an undisputed fact that Stephen Curry has been a leading force for the Golden State Warriors since he was drafted to the team in 2009.

Over a decade, the NBA star has counted off leading them to three championships and being crowned MVP twice. The achievements put him up there with the greats that the league’s court has ever seen and transformed the Warriors into a super-team.

The Golden State Warriors took early notice of what he brought to the franchise — prior to the aforementioned acclaimed success — in 2012 with a four-year, $44 million extension. According to Insider, although others thought the deal was far from reflecting his foreshadowed worth, in Curry’s eyes, it was “maybe the most favorable in NBA history.”

Humble Beginnings

In an interview with “The Draymond Green Show,” Green pointed out his honest opinion to his longtime teammate.

“A year later it was the worst deal in pro sports history. One year later. The absolute worst deal in professional sports — on your behalf. On the Warriors’ behalf, the best deal,” he said, according to Insider.

Although the $44 million turned to be a mere cut of what Curry had the potential to earn, his positive outlook kept him from holding regrets on signing the contract.

“I tried to set that foundation for my mindset right then and there and never re-negotiate with myself afterwards, never second-guess, never come back to that moment, like, ‘I shoulda, coulda, woulda.’ Because that’s not how life works,” Curry said.

Stephen Curry Continues Sharing His Outlook On The Deal

“Let’s keep perspective here: $44 million over four years. More money than my pops had ever made in the league because I had been around the league for 16 years watching my dad play,” he said. “I know how far the league has grown [since] when he played. That’s good money. Support my family. Got a lot of security. I just wanna be healthy. Let’s just focus on that, not what you’re leaving on the table.”

Evolution In The NBA

Along with his otherworldly skills on the court, Curry’s gratitude could possibly be what has led to even more income to add to his name.

According to the outlet, he went from a $44 million deal in 2012 to a five-year, $201 million contract in 2017. Then, in the past off-season, he signed a four-year, $215 million extension — making him “the first, and so far, only, player to sign back-to-back $200 million deals.”

For the 2025-2026 season, he’s projected to make nearly $60 million, as previously shared by AfroTech.