Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry used a portion of the Golden State Warriors' ring ceremony Tuesday night to call for the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from Russia, where she's been held since being detained on drug charges in February.

"Brittney Griner's birthday is today, she's 32 years old."

Steph gave BG a shoutout during the Dub's ring ceremony. She's been wrongfully incarcerated in Russia for 243 days. https://t.co/dCh0SvxZUl

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 19, 2022

Griner, whose 32nd birthday was Tuesday, received a nine-year prison sentence in August. She has appealed the decision.

The United States has engaged with Russia on discussions about a potential prisoner swap despite political tension related to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.

In July, after the U.S. offered Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for Griner and fellow American detainee Paul Whelan, National Security Council communications director John Kirby told CNN's Jim Sciutto that Russia responded with a "bad faith attempt" at a counteroffer.

Few updates about the state of negotiations have been provided since Griner's prison sentence was announced.

Last month, U.S. President Joe Biden met with Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, and Whelan's sister, Elizabeth Whelan, to discuss the administration's continued efforts to secure their release.

"The President held the meetings to reiterate his continued commitment to working through all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul home safely," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "He asked after the wellbeing of Elizabeth and Cherelle and their respective families during this painful time."

Griner was traveling to Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason, as she'd done since 2014, when she was detained after Russian officials said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

"I still don't understand to this day how they ended up in my bags," Griner said during her trial in July. "I didn't have any intent to use or keep in my possession any substance that is prohibited in Russia."

Several WNBA stars, including Ekaterinburg teammate Breanna Stewart, have made daily social media posts calling for her release.

Happy Birthday BG!!
It has been 243 days since our friend, Brittney Griner, has been wrongfully detained in Russia. It is time for her to come home. @WhiteHouse @potus @vp , we are paying attention and we are counting on you. #WeAreBG

— Stewie (@breannastewart) October 18, 2022

Stewart and the other WNBA players who played in Russia last season—a group of around a dozen players—told Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press they wouldn't return to the Russian Premier League amid Griner's continued detainment.

Griner is one of the most decorated basketball players of her generation, having won four EuroLeague titles, three Russian Premier League titles, a WNBA championship and an NCAA championship. She's also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA.

The Golden State Warriors' 2021-22 NBA championship rings are among the most unique in NBA history, as they pay homage to the four titles the Dubs have won over the past eight years.

The rings, which were designed by Jason of Beverly Hills, feature a secret compartment that opens to reveal the number of Larry O'Brien Trophies the specific player, coach or executive has won during their time with the Warriors:

pic.twitter.com/EEbTqL5zmZ

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 19, 2022

The rings given to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala all have four trophies in the compartment since they have been present for Golden State's entire dynastic run.

Players like Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, who won a championship for the first time last season, have one trophy hidden in their ring.

The rings feature 16 carats of yellow and white diamonds to represent the team's 16 wins during last season's playoff run, as well as seven carats of yellow cushion cut diamonds in reference to the franchise's seven championships, and 43 baguettes in remembrance of Curry's 43-point showing in Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Also featured on the ring are seven trophies in celebration of the Warriors' all-time championship wins and the team's "just us" motto.

The Warriors received the rings Tuesday night prior to their 2022-23 season-opening game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Golden State celebrated in style with a convincing 123-109 win, signaling that the Dubs will be among the top championship contenders once again this season.

Stephen Curry dazzled en route to a game-high 33 points as the Golden State Warriors opened their latest title defense with a 123-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at the Chase Center.

Steph Curry. He remains the single greatest show/entertainer on planet Earth

— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) October 19, 2022

Curry also recorded seven assists, six rebounds, four steals and a block on the night when the Dubs received their fourth championship ring since 2015. He knocked down 10 of his 22 shots from the field, including four made three-pointers, in 33 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaKC6HriWiY

Andrew Wiggins (20 points), Klay Thompson (18) and Jordan Poole (12) also reached double figures in scoring for Golden State. Fellow cornerstone Draymond Green tallied four points, five rebounds and five assists as Golden State held off a fourth-quarter surge from L.A.

"After tonight, the journey really begins in terms of everybody's best shot," Curry said. "You got some really talented teams that are going to be gunning for you. You have to be ready for it all. It's going to be a really long journey, but this is why we play. We're competitive. This is why we work as hard as we do. We can't just sit there and look at that ring."

Here's a look at some more Twitter reaction to the eight-time All-Star's latest standout performance:

It’s 2022 and Steph is still unstoppable 🗣 https://t.co/uv4mBYm2G4

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 19, 2022

We’ll never see anything like Steph Curry again. Cherish these moments.

— Mark Gunnels (@MarkAGunnels) October 19, 2022

https://twitter.com/HoodiDrew/status/1582558323219435521

I’ve seen enough, Steph Curry for MVP.

— Steph Curry Muse (@StephMuse_) October 19, 2022

It's going to be great to enjoy a full season where not a single person alive will ever question Steph Curry ever again. The discourse has been so annoying for so long and now we can finally just watch.

— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) October 19, 2022

steph curry is not of this earth

— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) October 19, 2022

He’ll never say it, but Steph Curry has every right to feel like the top guy in the game right now coming off the run he had and just from a pure skill, eye test and impact level. A pure hooper with all the accolades to match. pic.twitter.com/YCPazZx0lO

— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) October 19, 2022

Not only is Curry the most fun to watch in the sport, his style is the most conducive to winning.

Puts up huge numbers, in an exciting way, and doesn't need to dominate the ball to do it.

— Justin Termine (@TermineRadio) October 19, 2022

That's why Steph is so dangerous. He can kill you in a million different ways. The book says to deny him the ball, he'll backcut you to death. If you guard up on him, he'll drive right past you. If you give him space...

— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) October 19, 2022

Unreal, Steph. Unreal.

— Golden State of Mind (@unstoppablebaby) October 19, 2022

LeBron James paced the Lakers with 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists as he showed no signs of slowing down as he opened his 20th NBA season. Anthony Davis (27 points) and Russell Westbrook (19 points and 11 boards) also played well in the loss.

"Whether you make a shot or you miss a shot, you turn the ball over, whatever, you've got to have a short memory and get on to the next play immediately," L.A. head coach Darvin Ham told reporters. "That has to be something that's in our fabric, not just against Golden State but against the entire league."

The teams don't meet again until Feb. 11, when they'll start a stretch of three head-to-head matchups in a span of 20 days.

Curry and the Warriors are back in action Friday night when they welcome two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets to the Chase Center.

The Lakers will attempt to pick up their first win of the campaign Thursday night when they face the rival Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena.

Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers praised ownership for its willingness to spend big on its players.

"I just know this: There's a huge commitment to winning," Myers told reporters Monday. "There always has been, and I believe there always will be. I am lucky to be in an [ownership] group that believes that. Their actions prove it."

The Warriors signed both Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins to four-year extensions Saturday, creating a massive payroll for next season that already includes over $90 million owed to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, the team already has $215 million in payroll, which will create a $268 million luxury tax to equal $483 million in 2023-24.

This is still with only 12 players on the roster, meaning the total will get even higher once the squad is filled.

Golden State has consistently shown willingness to spend big, leading the NBA with $170 million in luxury tax last year, per Spotrac. The team is slated to spend the most on luxury tax again in 2022-23.

The Warriors aren't breaking any league salary-cap rules—Bird rights allow them to re-sign their own players—but few teams are willing to see the payroll expand to this level. Only seven teams in the NBA paid any luxury tax in 2021-22.

The extra spending has helped the Warriors keep their core together, leading to four titles in eight years.

Another Golden State Warriors title is disheartening, at least to teams that look at the Warriors' $170.3 million tax bill for the 2021-22 season and think, "I can't compete with that."

Now, the franchise is doubling down with extensions for Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins. Golden State's payroll could reach the $400-500 million range for the 2023-24 season. There's just no way for the majority of teams in the league to match that.

Most don't have anything close to the operating income needed to keep up with the Warriors' massive spending power. That gap is a widespread concern as the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have already begun negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

A primary goal of the CBA is to give every team the opportunity to win, regardless of market size. Some franchises will push for new rules, harsher tax penalties and stricter spending limits. But is that necessary?

Recency bias may scream the Warriors are buying titles—that the system is broken. The actual history, dating back to the adoption of the 2017 CBA, tells a different story. Heavy spenders reach the NBA Finals about as often as the more conservative teams.

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Not Every NBA Champion Spent Excessively

Four teams have won titles over the last five years. The Warriors have two of them, but the smaller-market Milwaukee Bucks paid out under $800,000 in penalties for their title. The Los Angeles Lakers are in a top media market and a willing spender, but even they were under the tax in their championship run (2019-20).

The past five champions were charged the following in luxury taxes:

• 2017-18: Golden State Warriors—$32,263,299
• 2018-19: Toronto Raptors—$25,190,963
• 2019-20: Los Angeles Lakers—$0
• 2020-21: Milwaukee Bucks—$794,721
• 2021-22: Golden State Warriors—$170,331,194

Yes, the Warriors are massive spenders. Yet their first spending spree came at the end of the Kevin Durant era, when broadcast revenue spiked in 2016. Adding Durant to a team with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green was going to be a problem for any teams that tried to outspend the Warriors, including the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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(Finals) Appearances May Be Deceiving

What about the second-best teams that fell in the NBA Finals? Did they buy their way, or was it a level playing field?

The Cavaliers (with LeBron James) that lost to the Warriors in 2017-18 made a heavy investment in defeat. The trend, however, is going the other way entirely:

• 2017-18: Cleveland Cavaliers—$50,749,202
• 2018-19: Golden State Warriors—$51,487,864
• 2019-20: Miami Heat—$2,461,242
• 2020-21: Phoenix Suns—$0
• 2021-22: Boston Celtics—$0

The last two teams to advance but lose in the Finals were under the tax. A bill under $2.5 million should be a manageable figure for any NBA franchise. The Celtics were very competitive in June despite the $170.3 million extra the Warriors were spending on tax.

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Some Spend, Only to Lose

The final four in 2021 paid out a combined $5.9 million in taxes, with the Los Angeles Clippers footing $5.2 million and the Atlanta Hawks under completely. Similarly, the Heat were the only team over the tax in either of the 2020 conference finals.

Both Los Angeles teams spent heavily last season (Clippers at $83.1 million in tax, Lakers at $45.1 million), but neither made the playoffs. The Brooklyn Nets ($97.7 million) and Utah Jazz ($18.8 million) could not advance out of the first round.

The top spenders over the 2020-21 season were the Warriors ($68.9 million) and Nets ($61.6 million)—and the Warriors didn't even make the playoffs with multiple injuries. The Oklahoma City Thunder spent $61.6 million in taxes for 2018-19, only to lose in the first round to the Portland Trail Blazers, who advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a $15 million tax bill.

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Spend to Win or Win to Spend?

Some teams, like the Indiana Pacers, draw a hard line and won't pay luxury taxes. Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks haven't paid taxes for a decade, although that projects to change for 2022-23.

The general rule of thumb for an NBA team on spending into the tax is: "Will doing so give us a significant chance to win at the highest level?"

By and large, the teams that have steeper payrolls are the ones that believe they have a chance to win a title that season. They may be more likely to be a buyer at the trade deadline.

Meanwhile, the franchises that thought they would be elite but are falling short of expectations tend to shed salary via trade and even contract buyouts to reduce or eliminate their tax bill.

A team's success can be cyclical. It depends on various factors, but the most important one is talent. The Warriors have as many titles as they have because of Steph Curry. Just like the San Antonio Spurs had Tim Duncan, the Lakers had Kobe Bryant and the Finals were a given wherever James set up shop. The teams with historic greats take home the rings.

But landing those superstars may be the most challenging step for an NBA team, so spending into the tax when those rare opportunities present themselves should make sense.

To most teams, what the Warriors are doing with their payroll doesn't make any sense. But is it ruining the NBA? Is the league non-competitive? The results over the course of the 2017 CBA suggest otherwise.

Finally, the teams under the luxury tax get a share of the money paid out by taxpayers. The haul after last season was $10.5 million, primarily paid by Golden State, which functionally subsidized the smaller markets with its lavish spending.

Those crying foul and asking for systemic change—are you sure you want to kill the golden goose?

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

Kevin Durant plays for the Brooklyn Nets, but he is familiar with the inner workings of the Golden State Warriors considering he suited up for three seasons alongside many members of the current core.

That makes it all the more notable he weighed in on Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole during practice on Oct. 5.

"I know that group," Durant said, per ESPN's Nick Friedell . "That's a strong group, tight-knit group. And I just hate to see that be seen in the public, what's going on in practices and stuff. But hopefully they get that figured out and we can move forward."

He also pointed out Golden State has rallied around the saying "Strength in Numbers," and the collaboration of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and others should help the team move on as the 2022-23 season begins.

Perhaps some of that strength was already on display when both Curry and head coach Steve Kerr told reporters a report suggesting there was a buildup in frustration from some around the team with Poole's attitude ahead of a potential contract extension wasn't true at all.

Friedell noted an incident between Durant and Green during the 2018-19 campaign escalated to the point where it "carried over into the locker room and threatened to derail the team's camaraderie" even though it didn't become physical.

"That's not the same situation," Durant said. "Somebody got punched in the face. ... It's no comparison to that. It was just some words that being—I heard people say that that happens a lot in the NBA. I had never seen nothing like that before. But what me and Draymond did a few years back, that s--t happens all the time. So it's easy to get through something like that, but I don't know what this situation is like."

Green apologized for the incident and took some time away from the team in the aftermath.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported the expectation is that the Michigan State product will return for the Tuesday opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.

As for Durant, he played for the Warriors from 2016-17 through 2018-19, and any potential lingering tension with Green didn't stop the team from building a modern-day dynasty. Golden State reached the NBA Finals all three seasons and won the championship twice in that span.

Perhaps it would have won all three titles had Durant not missed the majority of the 2019 Finals against the Toronto Raptors with an injury.

The Warriors are entering the new season as reigning champions after defeating the Boston Celtics in last season's Finals, and they surely hope to work through this issue as well to continue their run of success.

PGA 2K23 continues to add star power to its lineup, with Stephen Curry set to be a playable character in the golf video game:

His swing's as clean as his jumper! 👨‍🍳
Play as @StephenCurry30 in #PGATOUR2K23!
Pre-order today! https://t.co/tWymSPFDeg pic.twitter.com/V3mE7DN9s8

— #PGATOUR2K25 (@PGATOUR2K) October 3, 2022

PGA Tour 2k23 announces that Steph Curry will be a playable golfer in the upcoming game.

And now we wait to see how his rating stacks up against Michael Jordan's. pic.twitter.com/TOsYFVZw1P

— Sean Zak (@Sean_Zak) October 3, 2022

Curry joins fellow NBA legend Michael Jordan as special characters in the new game.

According to the press release, Curry's avatar will be accurately dressed in his Under Armour Curry Iso-Chill Golf adjustable cap, Charged Curry SL shoes, Curry Polar polo shirt and Curry Limitless shorts.

The Golden State Warriors star is obviously best known for his basketball career as the all-time leader in made three-pointers. He has eight All-Star selections, two MVPs and four NBA titles, winning a championship with Finals MVP this past season.

Curry has also impressed on the golf course as a regular contender at the American Century Championship, a celebrity tournament. He also made multiple appearances on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Though not quite as polished as professional golfers, he certainly has plenty of talent.

Gamers can now try to get the most out of his abilities while playing as Curry against Jordan or real-life golfers like Tiger Woods, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele and more.

Woods will be on the cover of the game, which is set for standard release on Oct. 14.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry said he spoke privately to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in the aftermath of the league's decision to suspend Phoenix Suns governor Robert Sarver for one year.

Curry told reporters at Sunday's media availability he understood Silver's point of view regarding the initial suspension, but he is happy Sarver ultimately chose to sell the team.

"I think the outcome was exactly what should have happened," Curry said. "Honestly, I thought with the punishment that was handed down, it would have dragged out a little longer, but I'm glad we got to a point where hopefully the team is up for sale sooner than later and can kind of move on knowing that's where it should be."

Sarver announced his intention to sell the Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury last week amid widespread public and private pressure. An independent investigation found Sarver used racial slurs, bullied employees, engaged in inequitable treatment of female employees and ran a hostile work environment over his ownership tenure.

The NBA suspended Sarver for one year and fined him $10 million, punishments that received overwhelmingly negative reactions. LeBron James, Chris Paul and Draymond Green were among the players who found the league reaction to be lacking.

behavior. I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn’t right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place. Don’t matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this aint it.

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 14, 2022

Green called on NBA governors to take a public vote on removing Sarver. Curry's Warriors teammate said he wanted the governors on record with their stance, though the podcast he made the comments on was recorded before Sarver announced he was selling the team.

"I was very happy to see that he was selling the team because I think that's right," Green said. "When you look at some of the things that people has gotten in trouble over, I think that falls under the same boat. And we're all a part of this league, and no one person is bigger than the league. If that goes for us as players, that goes across the board. We're still all a part of the league, no matter what level you're at."

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported Silver and several owners privately pressured Sarver into selling the franchise.

Sarver publicly apologized for his actions but bemoaned an "unforgiving" social climate forcing him to sell.

Stephen Curry isn't about to fall for any gamesmanship, even if he appreciates the compliments.

Giannis Antetokounmpo may be the best player in the world in the eyes of some, but the Milwaukee Bucks star told reporters he believes the best player is "the last one standing."

The last one standing during the 2021-22 campaign was Curry, who led the Golden State Warriors to their fourth title in eight years. He also took home the first NBA Finals MVP award of his career thanks to his performance in the victory over the Boston Celtics.

"I don't know if it was gamesmanship," Curry told reporters when asked about Antetokounmpo saying he was the league's best player. "I would've said the same thing about the champions... I said the same thing about him last year. I appreciate the compliment. It's not going to soften me at all."

It was Antetokounmpo's Bucks that won the title the previous season with the superstar cementing his legacy with 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a Game 6 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Yet the Warriors bounced back from injury-marred campaigns for Curry and Klay Thompson to add another championship to their modern-day dynasty.

Despite Curry's status as the reigning champion and NBA Finals MVP, ESPN believes he is the fifth-best player in the league heading into the 2022-23 campaign. Antetokounmpo came in at No. 1 in the publication's ranking, just ahead of back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokić at No. 2 and Luka Dončić at No. 3.

It wouldn't be a surprise if the Bucks and Warriors ended up facing each other in the 2023 NBA Finals, and the Curry vs. Antetokounmpo debate would be the biggest storyline.

By their own standards, the winner of such a hypothetical matchup would get a claim as the top player in the NBA heading into the 2023-24 season.