OAKLAND, Calif. — While the stability of Stephen Curry’s right ankle remains uncertain, his financial footing with the Golden State Warriors has never been more secure.
OAKLAND, Calif. — While the stability of Stephen Curry’s right ankle remains uncertain, his financial footing with the Golden State Warriors has never been more secure.
Curry signed a $44 million, four-year contract extension before Wednesday night’s season opener at Phoenix that will keep the point guard with the Warriors through the 2016-17 season. It was the final day Golden State could sign Curry to an extension or he would become a restricted free agent next summer.
“I just thought the deal was too good to pass up right now,” Curry said before the Warriors’ season opener against the Suns. “Obviously I’ve been through a lot of injuries the last year and a half with my ankle, but it’s back strong and ready to go.”
Curry missed 40 of 66 games last season and sprained his twice-surgically repaired right ankle again in the preseason, sitting out the final two exhibitions at the request of second-year coach Mark Jackson. New Warriors general manager Bob Myers and owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber felt the point guard was still worth the risk given his production when healthy.
“This is an exciting day for the Warriors and our fans, and it certainly exemplifies the commitment of Joe Lacob and Peter Guber,” Myers said in a statement. “We’re extremely pleased that we have reached an agreement that will enable Stephen to remain a vital part of our team long term. His contributions over the last three years, both on the floor and in the community, have been invaluable to our organization. We certainly expect him to be an integral part of our future success as he continues to evolve as a player in all facets of the game.”
The 24-year-old Curry averaged career lows of 14.7 points, 5.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds last season. He has still proven to be one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers when he’s on the court, shooting 47 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in his first three seasons.
Curry said he believed in the direction the team is heading.
“I’ve just seen the difference from my rookie year of where the organization is going,” he said. “It’s definitely promising, and I’m optimistic about where we can go, especially with what we did over the summer and even last year in getting such a deep roster, them making moods and putting a good product on the floor. It’s up to us now to go out and play.”
“Right now, for them to offer me what they did after what I’ve been through says a lot about, one, where my ankle is now, but, two, just their faith in what I can do,” Curry said. “Obviously things would have been different playing out the year, me playing well, next year I don’t what the number would have been, but that’s not even a question I’m asking myself now.”
New owners: Grizzlies in Memphis to stay
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies have changed owners officially, and the new bosses want to make clear their commitment to staying in Tennessee very clear.
“The Grizzlies are here to stay in Memphis,” new Grizzlies chairman Robert J. Pera said.
The Grizzlies announced Wednesday that the reported $377 million sale by Michael Heisley had been finalized to a group led by Pera, a former Apple engineer who founded the communications technology company Ubiquiti Networks. The group includes entertainer Justin Timberlake, former NBA player Penny Hardaway, a former U.S. congressman and Ashley Manning, wife of four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning.
Nets-Knicks opener postponed
NEW YORK — Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the game between the Knicks and Nets scheduled for tonight at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn has been postponed after damage from Hurricane Sandy.
The Knicks will now open their season at home Friday night against the Miami Heat. The Nets are scheduled to host Toronto on Saturday night.