The future of Stephen Curry has once again become a focal point of league-wide discussion after former NBA player and analyst Kendrick Perkins delivered a bold recommendation regarding the direction of the Golden State Warriors.

Curry is currently navigating the 17th season of a Hall of Fame career that has produced four NBA championships, two MVP awards, and a transformative impact on the modern style of basketball.

Now 37 years old and still performing at an elite level, Curry remains determined to chase a fifth title before the curtain falls on one of the most influential careers in league history.

However, Golden State’s inability to reclaim championship dominance since its 2022 title run has sparked difficult questions about the franchise’s competitive timeline.

Despite roster adjustments aimed at maintaining playoff viability, the Warriors have struggled to recapture the consistent two-way dominance that once defined their dynasty years.

Perkins believes the franchise must make a decisive choice regarding Curry’s workload for the remainder of the 2025–26 campaign.

“Shut Steph down. Let those guys play it out,” Perkins said during an appearance on the Road Trippin podcast, advocating for a strategic pivot that prioritizes long-term clarity over short-term playoff positioning.

Perkins elaborated that allowing the rest of the roster to finish the season without Curry would function as an audition process for players seeking to secure roles in the franchise’s next competitive window.

According to Perkins, the remainder of the season should serve as an evaluation period for Golden State’s supporting cast rather than a high-risk grind for a lower playoff seed.

“See what guys fit,” Perkins emphasized, suggesting that meaningful developmental minutes could provide clearer insight into which players deserve long-term investment.

He argued that performances without Curry’s gravitational influence would reveal which contributors can independently elevate their level under pressure.

“How do you want to be here? By performing at a high level,” Perkins stated, underscoring his belief that accountability should define the remainder of the season.

Perkins went even further, framing the upcoming offseason as one of the most pivotal stretches in franchise history since Curry first ascended to superstardom.

“This offseason is probably one of the most important offseasons of this franchise since Steph has been a part of it,” Perkins said, raising the stakes for Golden State’s front office.

He specifically called out general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., urging aggressive roster construction to maximize Curry’s remaining championship window.

“Mike Dunleavy has to do his job and make sure he goes and gets the pieces so that Steph has a legitimate shot next year,” Perkins said, emphasizing urgency in assembling a title-caliber roster.

The timing of this conversation is particularly significant given Golden State’s current standing in the Western Conference.

At 30–27, the Warriors sit in eighth place, hovering above the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers while trailing the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.

That positioning places Golden State squarely in play-in tournament territory, where a single elimination scenario could abruptly end its postseason hopes.

For some analysts, pushing aggressively for a playoff berth aligns with the competitive DNA Curry has instilled in the organization.

For others, including Perkins, risking further wear on Curry’s body during a season unlikely to culminate in a championship may be strategically shortsighted.

Curry’s individual performance this season remains elite by any measurable standard.

Across 39 games, he is averaging 27.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per contest, reaffirming that his skill set continues to defy traditional aging curves.

Even in Year 17, Curry’s shooting gravity warps defensive schemes, forcing double teams beyond the arc and creating opportunities for teammates to capitalize.

The Warriors’ offensive rating with Curry on the floor remains significantly higher than when he sits, underscoring his irreplaceable influence.

However, that same dependence raises the central dilemma Perkins addressed: whether Golden State is postponing necessary structural decisions by leaning heavily on its aging superstar.

Shutting Curry down would not signal surrender but rather recalibration, allowing the coaching staff to evaluate young talent under authentic competitive conditions.

It would also reduce cumulative stress on Curry’s body heading into what may represent the franchise’s final realistic championship window.

Conversely, sidelining Curry risks alienating fans and undermining locker-room morale, particularly if players interpret the move as conceding the season prematurely.

Golden State’s culture has long been rooted in competing every night, a philosophy Curry himself embodies with relentless commitment.

Balancing that ethos with pragmatic roster assessment requires delicate internal communication and unified vision from ownership through the coaching staff.

For Dunleavy, the offseason will demand boldness regardless of how the final months unfold.

Acquiring complementary scorers, defensive stoppers, and reliable secondary playmakers may determine whether Curry’s fifth title pursuit remains realistic.

The Warriors cannot afford incremental adjustments if they intend to reenter the championship conversation.

Perkins’ message ultimately centers on preserving Curry’s legacy while constructing a roster worthy of his remaining prime.

The question facing Golden State is not whether Curry can still perform at an elite level.

The question is whether the organization can assemble a supporting cast that justifies maximizing every possession of his closing years.

If the Warriors conclude that this season’s ceiling falls short of championship viability, strategic rest could become an uncomfortable but necessary option.

If they believe internal growth and postseason experience hold value, they may press forward with Curry leading the charge.

Either path carries risk, and either path will define how this era of Warriors basketball concludes.

For now, Stephen Curry continues to deliver brilliance in Year 17.

Whether he does so through April and beyond this season remains a decision that could shape the franchise’s trajectory for years to come.