The Golden State Warriors are no longer the unstoppable force they once were. Their dynasty, built on dominance and expectation, has faded into uncertainty. Championships were once a given. Now, they are a hope. Yet, Stephen Curry still fights. He still dreams. He still believes. But even he knows the end will come one day. And when it does, he has only one request. One final wish for the Warriors, his home for the last 16 (going to be 17) years.

At 36, Steph knows the clock is ticking, and pretty fast, might we add? Time spares no one, not even legends. Meanwhile, On The TK Show with Tim Kawakami, he faced a question that hit deep. How does he want to feel when it’s finally over? When he’ll take the last shot and play his final game?

“Competitive,” Steph told Kawakami, the journalist. “I’ve seen different scenarios. Like, everybody talks about Kobe [Bryant] and his last years. [But] from my vantage point, I’m comparing it to guys who only played for one franchise. Dirk [Nowitzki], Tim [Duncan], and Kobe in our era.” The Black Mamba is a Laker legend for a reason. He spent 20 years with the franchise and won 5 championships, etching his name in the sands of time. And for the Baby-Faced Assasin, this loyalty matters. After 16 seasons and 4 championships, it’s about ending his career here in San Francisco and nowhere else.

Moreover, Curry doesn’t want to be just a scoring machine for the Warriors like Kobe had turned into for the Lakers in the final stretch of his career. Instead, Steph has another tiny yet impactful request for the front office. “My whole thing is you’ve got to be realistic,” Curry explained.

He further expressed: “There’s probably not a move or a scenario where you’re going to walk into a season or a playoff series as the perennial favorite. There’s a lot of talent around the league. But to be competitive where you have a chance, that’s what we want to see. I’m sure that’s what our fans want to see. Playing meaningful games, no matter how it ends. I think that’s what we deserve. And I hope that is the reality I get to live in this last part of my career.”

Stephen Curry acknowledges that the league’s growing talent has made the Warriors no longer guaranteed title favorites. However, he believes they should still be competitive and fight for meaningful games. More than anything, he hopes to spend the final years of his career in a situation where winning remains possible.

Most importantly, the 36-year-old point guard is gradually regaining his joy in playing basketball at the highest level with the Warriors. After Klay Thompson left, it felt like a part of Steph also left with him. He lost his smile somewhere. The usual aggression felt off and shots, well it’s unlikely to say this, but Stephen Curry’s shots didn’t feel like Stephen Curry’s shots. But now that Jimmy Butler is on the roster, the air in the Bay Area is changing.

Stephen Curry is returning to his old self with Jimmy Butler

When was the last time Stephen Curry played pick-and-roll? Well, when Klay Thompson was on the team. The Splash Brothers were always competitive, even in the practices. And since The Captain’s exit, Curry had been missing these. But not anymore. The Warriors insider Anthony Slater of The Athletic dropped a tweet that is more than enough to bring a smile to the faces of the fans.

Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry were running through some pick-and-roll strategies. Curry played the screener while Butler became the ball-handler, brewing tricks to improve and improvise in the game. The Dubs meet the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, and the boys were practicing pick-and-roll after shootarounds in the Fiserv Forum. Seeing Curry in his old form is a sign of this shift in energy after Jimmy’s arrival. Well, he’s getting Draymond Green to admit his faults, too. Talk about changes!

Stephen Curry isn’t just chasing wins—he’s chasing purpose and joy. The past year tested him, especially after Klay’s departure. The Warriors felt different. So did Steph. But Jimmy Butler’s arrival brought a spark. Pick-and-rolls, fresh energy, a hunger to compete. Steph is smiling again. The Dubs may not be favorites, but they can still fight. And as long as they do, Curry’s story isn’t over yet.