Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry was flatly turned down when he requested a rare contract clause in his NBA deal.
LeBron James negotiated the clause when he signed his deal with the LA Lakers but Curry, who became the first NBA player to sign a $200 million supermax contract under a designation player exception in the summer of 2017, doesn't have the same agreement.
Curry's deal was the richest in NBA history. He has been the league's highest-paid star for the last eight seasons and his 2024-25 salary is $55,761,216 – only James and Kevin Durant have pulled in higher career earnings.
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The point guard reportedly requested a no-trade clause in the contract that would have allowed him to veto a trade to another team, giving him control over his destiny.
The Warriors declined. Only James and Phoenix Suns shooting guard Bradley Beal have the clause in their current contracts.
"That the team remained steadfast about leaving out a no-trade clause is particularly interesting," wrote Bleacher Report's Joseph Zucker back in 2018.
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"On the surface, trading a player who was instrumental in delivering two NBA titles in the space of three years would be a ridiculous move. Were he to spend his entire career with Golden State, Curry would be the biggest legend in franchise history.
"With that said, the Warriors were smart to give themselves an easier road to trade Curry if the need ever arises.
"The Warriors' desire for as much flexibility as possible is understandable."
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Curry and the Warriors followed up their NBA championships in 2015 and 2017 with wins in 2018 and, most recently, in 2022.
The 37-year-old has not yet been traded against his will so he might be feeling a little better about missing out on a no-trade clause between championships two and three.
Only ten players in NBA history have received a no-trade clause
Curry didn't get what he wanted but LeBron James and Bradley Beal are two of the ten NBA stars to have had no-trade clauses (NTC) in their contracts in the history of the league.
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The late Kobe Bryant had an NTC in his Lakers contract, though he almost waived it to move to the Detroit Pistons.
Carmelo Anthony had an NTC in his 2014 renewal with the New York Knicks, the same year Dwyane Wade re-upped with the Miami Heat in an NTC-bolstered deal.
2007 league MVP Dirk Nowitzki had the clause in his contract with the Dallas Mavericks, and Tim Duncan in his deal with the San Antonio Spurs.
The were also no-trade clauses for David Robinson (Spurs), Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics) and John Stockton (Utah Jazz).
Topics: NBA, LA Lakers, Steph Curry , Lebron James
Chris Nee