Matt Barnes thinks Warriors’ Stephen Curry will follow Kobe Bryant’s retirement footsteps

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is entering his 18th season in the NBA. Typically, players in the later stages of their careers are expected to take a back seat to younger teammates and play a supporting role.

Such is not the case for Curry. After all, he is not a typical star.

The 38-year-old shooter will be tasked with carrying the heavy load for the Warriors. He is coming off another injury-riddled campaign, which saw him play only 43 games. Some speculate that Curry, who is in the final year of his contract, might leave the Warriors to chase a fifth ring elsewhere.

But for the two-time MVP’s former teammate, ex-NBA forward Matt Barnes, Curry might take a page out of NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s playbook.

“I kind of feel like Steph is on that Kobe train, respectfully. I don’t think he’s gonna (leave). I think Steph is going to ride the ship until it sinks, similar to what Kobe did (with the Los Angeles Lakers),” said Barnes on “All The Smoke.”

“I think Steph is going to ride the ship until it sinks, similar to what Kobe did.”

Matt Barnes believes that Steph Curry will never leave the Warriors

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Barnes, however, noted that the Warriors cannot win the championship with an aging core.

“Does this version of the Warriors have a shot? I don’t think so. It’s a young league. We still got greatness from Steph, and obviously, Draymond’s (Green) still there, but that’s a heavy carry. They need another (player), someone to take some pressure off that,” stated the retired forward, who won a title with Curry and the Warriors in 2017.

Jimmy Butler is out until January due to an ACL injury, leaving the offensive burden solely on Curry. Kristaps Porzingis, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Yaxel Lendeborg are expected to help in the scoring department, but Golden State will still revolve around Curry.

The Warriors will open their new season against the Lakers.

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