A renewed desire for a superteam

Not to get greedy, but...

Steph Curry excelled on the biggest stage last week, using an explosion to propel Team USA to a late comeback win over Serbia in the semifinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and then hitting a flurry of late daggers to lead the Americans past the host country in the gold medal game.

It was a joy to behold, and for Golden State Warriors fans, one of the most enjoyable parts was seeing the rest of the basketball world react to getting to root for Curry, instead of against him. I saw more than one (hell, more than one hundred, probably) tweets that were some variation of, “OK, I understand why Warriors fans act the way they do now.”

But while that was a delightful sight to see, what I found myself enjoying most about Curry in Paris was seeing him sharing the court with some of the select few players whose names belong on the same mantle as Steph’s.

It has sometimes felt like Curry doesn’t get enough love and respect around the league, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth in France. His teammates quite openly not only adored him, but were in total awe of what he was doing. And as the tournament wore on, it became increasingly clear that Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant were not just the elder statesmen of the team, but in a tier of their own on a team brimming with star talent.

And I’ll admit it: I found myself missing the days of Curry and Durant sharing a court together, treating the rest of the league like the JV squad during a high school practice. Nothing will ever compare to the specialness and sentimentality of watching Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green — the homegrown, Hall of Fame trio — reach the highest highs in the NBA. But then again, nothing will ever compare to Curry and Durant taking turns being the most dominant offensive player in the league, toying with opponents in a ruthless, arrogant, highlight-fueled manner.

I miss it. I miss it a lot. I want to see it again.

The Warriors reportedly checked in with the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline about trading for James. There were talks of finding ways to add James or Durant this offseason, though those discussions never materialized beyond “online speculation that is probably based in nothing at all.” Watching that trio march to the gold medal in the Olympics was a reminder as to why the Warriors want so badly to pair another star with Curry. Not only is there the obvious advantage of pairing stars, but they seem to work a little extra when Curry is involved. When Durant was on the Dubs, Curry was often labeled with the “most selfless superstar” label ... not an inaccurate one, but not one that fully encapsulates the point, either. People often said that as though Curry would take a backseat to Durant, but really it’s about Steph’s willingness — and ability — to put his teammates in the best situations for them to thrive, and then take over whenever the team needs him to. It’s the best of both worlds, and it’s as tremendous for viewership as it is for wins.

With due respect to Lauri Markkanen and Paul George, the Warriors’ two failed pursuits of the offseason, I’m not pining for another star: I’m in the mood for a superstar. A Durant. A James. A Giannis. A Jokić. An Embiid.

It’s highly unlikely to happen. The Dubs don’t have a feasible path for trading for a star, and the opportunities for such a player to choose the Warriors in free agency are slim, without even accounting for the team’s financial situation.

But we can dream. And after watching Curry once again take turns being the best player in the world with a select few deserving other candidates, I sure am going to cling to that dream.