Stephen Curry Pushing Warriors to Reunite with 2022 Champion in Free Agency: Report

It has been an interesting offseason thus far for the Golden State Warriors and one that has been an extremely quiet one outside of the ongoing saga between them and Jonathan Kuminga.

Golden State was expected to be very active this offseason to upgrade their roster around their star trio of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green as they try to chase another championship next season.

Instead, the Warriors have failed to make any moves outside of the 2025 draft as they continue to deal with the ongoing situation surrounding restricted free agent Kuminga.

It has been reported that Kuminga has declined the Warriors’ contract offer and as Golden State continues to await a decision by the young forward, they continue to miss out on free agent targets.

Stephen Curry pushing Warriors to sign Gary Payton II

Despite this, the Warriors have still shown interest in multiple players and according to NBA insider Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, Curry is pushing the franchise to reunite with 2022 champion Gary Payton II.

“Steph Curry’s voice carries weight in Golden State, and once again the franchise cornerstone is making his stance clear. I’m told Curry has been in direct contact with Gary Payton II, pushing for the Warriors to bring the defensive ace back on a two-year deal,” Robinson wrote. “Payton II, who played an instrumental role in Golden State’s 2022 championship run, also wants to return. The mutual interest is there. And when Curry co-signs it, the conversation shifts from possibility to priority.”

Of course, Payton II has spent most of the last five seasons in Golden State outside of a brief stint with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 32-year-old guard was a key piece of their roster during their championship run in 2022 and he has continued to be a major contributor off the bench due to his great defensive play.

Payton II is currently an unrestricted free agent who would fit well on multiple contending teams around the league, though it is clear by Robinson’s report that he is interested in returning to Golden State with Curry pushing the Warriors to sign him.

While that may be the case, it appears as though the Warriors are not going to sign any players in free agency until their situation with Kuminga comes to an end, meaning that another team could swoop in and steal Payton II away from them.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.