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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

The Golden State Warriors redeemed themselves tonight. After a disappointing loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, Stephen Curry and Co. came out with a vengeance and dominated the Brooklyn Nets 109-98. Steph put on a show at the Barclays Center and went off for 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. The 4-time Champion’s incredible performance even got appreciation and applause from the Nets fans in the arena, overwhelming the 3-pointer legend.

After the game, Steph was obviously overwhelmed with the love Brooklyn showered upon him and his team reflected on how blessed he had been, thanking God for achieving greatness in his 15-year-long career. He claims to never take his fans’ love for granted, and how difficult it will be once he decides to hang his shoes up and retire for good. He said, “God is good in the sense of what basketball has allowed me to do and experience. We work so hard to play at this level like you said. Been in this game for a very long time and to have this type of response on the road, like, I never take it for granted. It’s truly special and at a certain point, the shoes are gonna get hung up and you’ll miss it.”

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Statistically speaking, Curry is still going strong, even though his team has hit multiple snags this season. Just in the last 6 games, Curry has a shooting percentage of 47.7% from 3-point range on 14.7 attempts. He has also hit more than 5 3-pointers. The 35YO is averaging 28.1 points, 5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds.

15 years on the hardwood floor, the Baby-faced Assassin is not far behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant in terms of longevity. He has been the best player on the Warriors squad for over a decade and continues to be the face of the franchise even today. And of course, he still has many good years left. Analysts and fans hope that his playing style warrants an extension in his career beyond that. Being an elite shooter, Steph can rely on his scoring ability even after he starts losing his speed and athleticism. That can give him a few extra years in the league at a high level.

But despite Curry’s prowess and the latest wins, the Warriors have been struggling right in the middle of the 2023-24 season.

Are the Golden State Warriors missing their spark?

Despite Stephen Curry’s incredible form, the Warriors are nowhere close to contending for a championship this season. They are stuck at the 12th spot in the Western Conference standings with a 22-25 record. With the February 8 trade deadline only 3 days away, the Warriors front office has made no significant moves to improve their roster. Steph is 35 years old, and no one can be certain how long he will be able to perform at a high level.

The Warriors need to capitalize on the final years of Steph’s career and make a run for his 5th championship. They have a lot of pieces that can be traded to acquire a younger superstar to play alongside Steph and lead them to another ring.

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Right now, the Warriors are still holding on to their core – Curry, Thompson, and Green, but they’re in dire need of a spark. They’ll be inclined to make deals since Chris Paul’s contract is also nearing its expiry date. The franchise needs a salary filler or an asset return, so Paul could be valuable to the franchise right now. The team was riding high on Paul, but because of his injuries, they’re all suffering.

In this cold stretch, Jonathan Kuminga also seems promising for them. The forward averaged 23.23 points in the last 10 games, but there still seems a lack of a bridge formed between two different generations in their roster. So, it will really interesting to see what moves could the Warriors make before February 8 to ensure Curry and others in the trio are well-supported.

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If given the right support and environment, Curry and the team could easily still get back on track and have a chance at winning a ring. Despite the support, Curry still seems loyal to the franchise. So, it’s time the franchise reciprocates and helps him. Do you think they will get back their spark and set a revolution his season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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