Video by BJ Hoops. The Golden State Warriors Are Building Something Dangerous
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors begin the new season with a roster that blends veteran experience, shooting depth, and playoff pedigree. After weeks of inactivity caused by Jonathan Kuminga’s contract impasse, the team closed the offseason with a series of additions that analysts say could keep the championship window open.
🔄 From Stalemate to Solutions
What began as a stalled summer has flipped into one of the league’s sharpest offseasons. After weeks of silence around Jonathan Kuminga’s contract, the Warriors landed Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Seth Curry — surgical additions that transformed a shaky roster into one built to contend.
With Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler anchoring the core, Golden State isn’t just fighting to stay relevant. This group looks capable of a top-four finish in the West, provided veterans are managed smartly and the young core takes a step forward.
⭐ Butler and Curry Anchors
Last season’s midyear acquisition of Jimmy Butler redefined expectations. Before his arrival, Golden State hovered at 25–26 with middling efficiency. After, they went 23–8, jumped to eighth in offense, first in defense, and posted a 21–3 record in games where Butler and Stephen Curry shared the floor.
Observers point to Butler’s unselfish fit, allowing Curry to thrive without friction over touches. The Butler-Curry-Green trio now forms the team’s foundation.
🛡️ Melton’s Return
De’Anthony Melton is expected to miss the opening month as he rehabs from knee surgery, but the Warriors see him as a vital two-way piece. In Philadelphia, he averaged around 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, ranked among the league leaders in deflections, and hit nearly 39% of his corner threes.
If he regains mobility, Melton gives Golden State a versatile perimeter defender and secondary playmaker — exactly the kind of guard needed to ease Stephen Curry’s defensive load in playoff matchups.
🏀 Horford’s Stability at Center
Video by Jim Park. The League is NOT READY For the New Warriors
At 39, Al Horford arrives as the veteran big man the Warriors have lacked since Kevon Looney’s departure. Last season in Boston, he shot 42% from three while anchoring lineups that consistently outscored opponents.
Defensively, he still limits shots at the rim and can switch in stretches, bringing playoff-tested reliability. His passing and floor spacing also fit seamlessly into Steve Kerr’s motion system. The key will be managing his minutes, with Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinton Post providing depth behind him.
🌊 The Curry Brothers Storyline
The addition of Seth Curry brings both intrigue and shooting depth. He led the NBA in three-point percentage last season at nearly 46% and owns a career mark over 43%.
Playing alongside his brother for the first time in Golden State, Seth extends the team’s shooting gravity across all rotations. Efficient and low-usage, he’s expected to boost second units and give defenses little relief from the Warriors’ trademark spacing.
📋 Lineups and Age Factor
Camp lineups have tested Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski as starting options alongside Curry, Butler, Green, and Horford. The bench includes Seth Curry, Kuminga, Podziemski or Moody, Post, Buddy Hield, Jackson-Davis, and Payton.
Age remains a concern: Golden State is set to be the first team ever to start four players over 35 on opening night. That experience brings playoff calm but raises questions about durability. Balancing minutes across Curry, Seth, and Podziemski — all ball-capable guards — will test Kerr’s rotation management.
⚖️ Key Questions to Watch
Several uncertainties could shape the Warriors’ season. Kuminga’s role remains unsettled, with his new contract leaving open the possibility of a trade before February. Melton’s health will be closely monitored, and his defensive overlap with Payton may force rotation choices. Hield’s shooting will determine his minutes, while Horford’s durability is crucial to frontcourt stability.
The other factor is whether the long-promised young core — Moody, Podziemski, Kuminga, Jackson-Davis, and Post — can finally deliver. Moody and Podziemski have both been tested with the starters in camp, and this season could decide whether the next generation is ready to contribute meaningfully behind the veterans.
🔮 Season Outlook
Video by DflowHoops. The Golden State Warriors Struck Gold This Off-Season
Golden State enters 2025–26 balancing age with ambition, but their offseason has been one of the league’s sharpest turnarounds. Horford’s seamless fit, Melton’s defensive edge, and Seth Curry’s shooting give the roster surgical upgrades around Curry and Butler.
While most forecasts slot the Warriors in the top six of the West, we see them in the top four, with strategic rest keeping veterans fresh. The championship window may be shrinking, but these precise additions can fuel a deep run.
