4x NBA Champion Stephen Curry Caused Giannis? ?Eyes to Tilt? Towards Warriors Trade but 3 Obstacles Blocked It in 2020

NBA superstar Stephen Curry is arguably the best shooter ever with his ability to consistently make shots from beyond the arc. Curry has the ability to take over any game in a matter of minutes. With him as an opponent, no lead is safe. Playing alongside someone like Curry would make any player’s life easy on the court. Superstars joining other superstars to form super teams has become common now. In 2020, there were rumors about superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s interest in joining Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in what would’ve been one of the most impactful trades in the history of the league.

Antetokounmpo’s contract was up for extension and there were rumors that he might test the free agency in 2021. Also, there was speculation that Giannis wanted to play alongside Curry. However, things did not materialize. In 2020, the Athletic looked at reasons why Antetokounmpo would not join the Warriors and listed three important reasons.

Three reasons Stephen Curry and the Warriors could not sign Giannis

The article compared Kevin Durant joining the Warriors with the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumor. The first major reason listed was the age of the key players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green compared with Giannis’. The report argued Durant was at a similar age with the Warriors’ big three when he joined the Dubs. That wouldn’t have been the case if Antetokounmpo were to join them in 2021.

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The report stated, “If Giannis hits the market next summer, he will be 26. Curry ? a friendly acquaintance, considered by those in the know as?the?dominant reason Giannis? eyes would even tilt in the Warriors? direction ? will be 33. Thompson, currently in the late stages of his ACL rehab, and Green, showing early signs of a physical decline, will both be 31.”

The article then listed the Warriors’ salary cap situation. When Durant joined the Dubs, Curry, Thompson, and Green were still on relatively modest contracts. However, that was not the case in 2020. Curry was the highest-paid player in the NBA and Thompson and Green were on huge contracts as well. So adding Giannis to the ranks was practically impossible. The report listed the league’s salary cap as the third and final reason.

Giannis Antetokounmpo signed an extension in 2020

In December 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a five-year contract extension worth an estimated $228 million. This put all the rumors about Giannis testing the free agency to bed. While it was not good news for rival fans, it was exciting news for Milwaukee Bucks and their fans.

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Antetokounmpo took to Twitter to share his excitement as well. ?This is my home, this is my city,? he wrote. Not many imagined The Greek Freak would repay the team’s trust in him immediately. He won the regular season MVP award for the second time in a row that year. He then led the Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 long years in 2021.