NBA: Curry signs $200 million deal with Warriors

World
Europe

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has clinched a new five-year deal worth 201 million US dollars, the biggest contract in NBA history, according to ESPN.

Curry, who recently helped the Warriors to their second NBA Finals crown in three years, is the first player to break the 200-million-US-dollar barrier, reported ESPN, citing the player's agent, Jeff Austin.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors attempts a layup against Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half in Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, US, on June 7, 2017. /VCG Photo

News of the agreement wipes away any uncertainty concerning Curry's future, who was previously on a four-year contract worth 44 million US dollars until this new deal.

Despite being one of the league's highest-profile stars, Curry had languished way down the pecking order of the NBA's best-paid players.

According to the basketball-reference.com website, Curry had been the 82nd best-paid player in the league, earning just over 12.1 million US dollars last season.

That figure is dwarfed by the league's highest-earner, LeBron James, who stands to earn 33.3 million US dollars next season and 35.6 million US dollars in 2018-2019.

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry talks to the media as part of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, US, on June 08, 2017. /VCG Photo

Curry's existing contract had been agreed when there were still doubts about his long-term fitness, with the player thought to have issues concerning the durability of his ankles.

However, those doubts were obliterated during a series of dazzling seasons for the Warriors that helped him become a four-time All-Star.

He was named NBA Most Valuable Player during the Warriors' championship winning run in 2014-2015 and the following season became the first player in history to win the award in a unanimous vote.

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (L) and Stephen Curry share a laugh after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 129-120, in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, US, on June 12, 2017. /VCG Photo

He averaged 25.3 points per game this regular season and has led the league in three-point field goals for five straight seasons.

That remarkable run of scoring included 402 three-pointers in 2015-2016 – a single-season record. No other player had passed 300 threes in a season before Curry.

(Source: AFP)