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2025-26 NBA Guide: Golden State Warriors
Warriors: A Never-Ending Roller CoasterThe 2024–25 season for the Golden State Warriors was a true roller coaster. The team suffered the loss of franchise legend Klay Thompson in the offseason but got off to a scorching start thanks to Buddy Hield, winning 12 of its first 15 games and climbing to the top of the […]
Warriors: A Never-Ending Roller Coaster
The 2024–25 season for the Golden State Warriors was a true roller coaster. The team suffered the loss of franchise legend Klay Thompson in the offseason but got off to a scorching start thanks to Buddy Hield, winning 12 of its first 15 games and climbing to the top of the Western Conference standings.
However, offensive struggles and head coach Steve Kerr’s difficulties in finding an effective rotation led to a steep decline. After starting 12–3, the Warriors went on a stretch of 4 wins and 13 losses, falling to tenth place by the end of 2024.
The team remained stuck hovering around .500 until the trade deadline, when they finally succeeded in their search for a second star to pair with Stephen Curry. The chosen name: Jimmy Butler, who had recently requested a trade following several controversies and suspensions with the Miami Heat.
The success of the Butler–Curry duo was immediate. The pair played 27 games together down the stretch of the regular season, winning 22 of them. Overall, the Warriors posted the third-best record in the NBA after Butler’s debut (23–8), along with one of the league’s top defenses (112 defensive rating, 7th best in the NBA).
Thus, Golden State climbed back into playoff contention. Though they didn’t qualify directly, they advanced as the seventh seed after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In Tournament. Facing the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets, Butler and Curry once again made the difference, leading the Warriors to a seven-game series victory.
But the Warriors’ season ended in heartbreak when Stephen Curry suffered an injury in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After pulling a hamstring, the star guard missed the rest of the playoffs and could only watch from the bench as his team was eliminated in five games.
Stalemate with Kuminga Stalled the Offseason
Interestingly, the Warriors were one of the least active teams in free agency. In fact, the franchise made no major roster changes, starting the offseason with contract extensions for bench players Gui Santos and Quinten Post, while also re-signing De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II in recent months.
The biggest offseason challenge for Golden State was the contract stalemate with Jonathan Kuminga. After lengthy negotiations, both sides reached an agreement on a two-year, $45 million extension. The forward returns for 2025–26 but does not have a guaranteed long-term future with the franchise and could still be traded during the season.
With Kuminga’s new deal finalized, the Warriors were able to move forward with previously discussed signings. Most notably, veteran center Al Horford joined the team, along with Seth Curry, Stephen’s brother. However, Seth is expected to be waived during the preseason for financial reasons and potentially return in November.
In the NBA Draft, the team selected guard Koby Brea in the second round. The prospect had a promising stint at Kentucky last season, averaging 11.6 points and shooting 43.5% from three over 36 games (16 starts).
Few Changes, But the Roster Remains Strong
Even without major offseason additions, the Stephen Curry–Jimmy Butler duo is more than capable of keeping the Warriors among the West’s top contenders. Assuming both stars remain healthy, the franchise should compete for home-court advantage in the playoffs.
However, special emphasis must be placed on the word “health.” Considering the current roster and the players the front office has targeted, Golden State will enter the season with an aging lineup, naturally more susceptible to injuries. Staying competitive without Curry or Butler will be a challenge, making bench depth a key factor for success.
Jimmy Butler Is the Key to a Successful Season
The Warriors’ 2025–26 campaign will revolve heavily around Jimmy Butler. The forward arrives with clear superstar status and the mission of easing the burden that previously fell solely on Stephen Curry. On the other hand, there are doubts about his ability to stay healthy and maintain consistent production throughout the regular season.
Injuries became a recurring issue during his time with the Miami Heat. Between 2019 and 2024, Butler played in just 291 of 401 possible games — even accounting for the shortened 2019–20 season. That lack of availability contributed to his exit from Miami, as the franchise grew hesitant to offer him another major deal.
Even so, Butler always delivered when it mattered most. His “Playoff Jimmy” persona produced memorable performances, averaging 24.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists across 64 postseason games for the Heat.
Butler’s presence will also be crucial in reducing Curry’s workload, one of Golden State’s biggest issues in recent years. In 2024–25, the team posted a net rating of -2.9 when Curry was off the floor. Butler’s arrival flipped that narrative — improving the team’s efficiency by 8.4 points per 100 possessions.
The Warriors posted a +12.8 net rating in minutes with Butler on the court without Curry (excluding garbage time). During those stretches, the veteran averaged 24.9 points and 7.6 assists per 75 possessions, with an excellent 63.7% true shooting percentage (TS%).
Given all that, Butler will be a vital piece for Golden State’s success — provided he can stay consistent throughout the regular season and avoid injuries.
Supporting Cast Needs to Step Up
One of the most crucial factors for Golden State’s success next season will be the growth of its supporting cast.
Last year, the franchise had the second-oldest roster in the league (behind the Phoenix Suns) and the third-highest average age when weighted by usage rate. This reality means that the team’s younger players and rotation pieces must emerge as reliable contributors when the stars are unavailable.
Of course, Stephen Curry remains the heart of the Warriors. In 2024–25, the team scored 118.4 points per 100 possessions with the 37-year-old on the floor — compared to only 105.0 without him. That gap underscores how indispensable he still is, but the heavy dependency increases his risk of injury, as seen in the last postseason.
The addition of Jimmy Butler was meant to ease that burden, giving Golden State more stability when Curry sits. However, Butler also comes with age concerns and a history of taking a more measured approach to regular-season intensity, which could leave the team in a precarious position in the race for playoff seeding.
Given these factors, players such as Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody will need to take on larger roles. The Warriors’ bench, already one of the best in 2024–25 with 55.3 points per 100 possessions (second-best in the league), will need to sustain that level of production — especially when Curry or Butler aren’t on the floor.
