Why Steph Curry Should NOT Sign an Extension Yet and How His Runner's Knee is the Fulcrum | Dr. Nirav Pandya Examines + Mike Dunleavy, Jr. Comments

Should Steph Curry sign another Warriors extension as soon as he becomes eligible on August 29th? I think he should wait — because waiting could benefit both Steph AND the franchise.Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. says he’s confident Steph wants to finish his career in Golden State. But he also described managing Curry’s knee, injuries and age as “delicate.”That becomes especially important after my recent conversation with UCSF orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nirav Pandya, who explained why Steph’s “runner’s knee” may be about much more than cutting his minutes.Pandya says the bigger question could be LOAD, not minutes: What does Curry have to do during those 28, 30 or 32 minutes? Is the knee primarily dealing with muscle and tendon irritation that can be managed? Or could there be a structural component, such as cartilage, where shaving a few minutes might not solve the problem?That uncertainty is exactly why I believe Steph should wait on an extension.👇 SYNOPSIS CONTINUED BELOW 👇📌 Join on our knowledge-based Discord server for real-time NBA news feeds on all things Warriors, plus SEARCHABLE VIDEO by topics, coaches, players.🗞 Free Discord with categorized Warriors + NBA updates: https://whop.com/letsgowarriors (choose FREE version)💎 VIP Discord with real-time news feeds, exclusive clips + insights: https://whop.com/letsgowarriors (choose VIP version)📰 Substack: https://letsgowarriors.comYOUTUBE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE:https://youtu.be/3JKzemlGWwMTHIS ORIGINALLY APPEARED LIVE HERE:https://youtube.com/live/PX0wgp-XYQ0👇This isn’t about Curry simply sacrificing money for the Warriors. It’s about giving Steph and Golden State another season of information before deciding what his next salary should be — and maximizing his chances of chasing a fifth championship.If the knee remains a significant issue and Curry is again limited to something close to last season’s 43 games, perhaps the better path next summer is a “soft reset”: Steph adjusts his salary accordingly and Golden State gains flexibility to rebuild the supporting cast around him.But if the knee responds beautifully, Steph remains healthy and he’s still capable of carrying a championship-level workload? The equation changes. Curry and the Warriors can choose a larger number accordingly — while still considering whether a discount could create additional avenues for complementary talent.Either way: Why decide before you have the data?If the trust between Curry and the Warriors is as strong as it appears, waiting could give them something more valuable than contractual certainty today: OPTIONALITY tomorrow.Not simply to save the franchise money — but to give Steph Curry the best possible chance to chase Ring No. 5.(00:00) Why Steph Curry should NOT sign an extension yet(01:03) Dunleavy: Steph wants to finish his career as a Warrior(03:13) August 29th: When extension talks can begin(05:13) The big unknown: Steph’s knee(05:41) Dunleavy calls Curry’s situation “delicate”(06:43) Can the Warriors afford a “gap year” with Steph?(07:27) Dr. Pandya on Steph’s workload and runner’s knee(09:32) Load management isn’t just about minutes(09:52) Could there be a structural issue with the knee?(11:14) Why wait? Another season means more information(12:21) What if preserving Steph means changing Steph?(12:31) Could Curry’s runner’s knee change the Warriors’ offense?(14:32) Why Steph might sign the extension anyway(14:49) The case for preserving flexibility(15:29) Why I think Steph should wait(16:23) Final thoughts + LGW DiscordKeywords: Steph Curry, Stephen Curry, Warriors, Golden State Warriors, Steph Curry extension, Steph Curry contract, Steph Curry knee, runner’s knee, Nirav Pandya, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Warriors salary cap, Warriors cap space, NBA free agency, Warriors offseason, Steve Kerr, Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler, Yaxel Lendeborg, Dub Nation, Let’s Go Warriors