Written By Mauricio Segura // Image Created By: Golden Bay Times Graphics Dept.
OCT 17, 2026
Four championships, a collection of unforgettable moments, and one aging superstar who can still make an entire arena hold its breath. The Golden State Warriors are heading into the 2026-27 NBA season with Stephen Curry, unfinished business, and a rather uncomfortable question hanging over Chase Center. How much magic is left?
Last season offered a sobering answer. Golden State finished 37-45, landed 10th in the Western Conference, and spent April fighting for a playoff invitation rather than preparing for another championship run. The Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 in the play-in tournament, behind Curry’s 35 points, only to watch their season disappear two nights later in a 111-96 loss to Phoenix.
The problem wasn't simply age. Injuries gutted a roster already stretched thin. Curry averaged 26.6 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 39.3 percent from three-point range, but appeared in just 43 games. Jimmy Butler delivered 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per contest before tearing his right ACL against Miami on January 19. He played only 38 games.
Without their stars consistently available, Golden State's offense struggled to find its rhythm. The Warriors averaged 114.6 points, ranking 22nd in the NBA, despite finishing sixth in assists at 28.9 per game. The ball kept moving, but too often the scoreboard didn't.
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. spent the offseason trying to keep the championship window open without tearing apart the foundation. Curry received a two-year extension, Draymond Green returned on a one-year agreement, and coach Steve Kerr secured a multiyear contract.
The biggest infusion of youth arrived through the draft. Golden State selected Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg 11th overall, and the 6-foot-9 rookie wasted little time making an impression. He averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, four assists, and 1.5 steals during NBA Summer League, earning MVP honors while helping the Warriors win the Las Vegas championship. His 21-point, 10-rebound performance in the championship game offered a glimpse of what the organization hopes will become a dependable two-way presence.
Golden State also signed veteran sharpshooter Georges Niang, a career 40-percent three-point shooter, and guard Brandon Williams, who averaged 13 points and 3.9 assists for Dallas last season. Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II returned, while Quinten Post departed for Memphis.
Still, the most troublesome development concerns Kristaps Porzingis. Acquired from Atlanta in February for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, the 7-foot-2 center averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 15 games with Golden State. After signing a new two-year deal, Porzingis missed the preseason because of an ongoing health issue. His absence is indefinite, leaving Kerr without the interior scoring and rim protection he expected.
That likely means more small-ball basketball, with Green anchoring the defense. The 36-year-old averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists last season. Kerr is experimenting with less ballhandling for Green and more movement away from the basket, hoping to reduce turnovers and improve offensive spacing.
Brandin Podziemski could become the biggest beneficiary. The young guard played all 82 games last season, averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while making 153 three-pointers. Gui Santos brings versatility, while Melton provides perimeter defense after averaging 12.3 points and 1.6 steals. Moses Moody, who shot 40.1 percent from beyond the arc last season, remains sidelined following a serious knee injury.
The schedule offers little opportunity for a leisurely start. Golden State opens October 21 against Luka Dončić and the Lakers in Los Angeles, then welcomes Memphis to Chase Center on October 23. Trips to Phoenix, Denver, and Minnesota follow, with another Lakers showdown October 30 opening NBA Cup competition.
November 5 brings an emotional reunion when Klay Thompson returns to San Francisco wearing Miami colors. Sacramento visits November 25 for an NBA Cup meeting, followed by another Kings matchup January 12. LeBron James, now with Philadelphia, visits March 24, while Phoenix returns April 6 for a late-season encounter carrying painful memories.
Golden State finished preseason play 4-2, beating Portland 128-118 on October 16 behind Curry's 20 points and an encouraging showing from Lendeborg. But exhibitions cannot answer the questions that matter.
Butler's return from knee surgery is not expected until midseason. Curry, now 38, must manage his workload across an 82-game marathon, while Horford turns 40 and Green faces another season of defending larger opponents. Health, rebounding, fewer turnovers, and consistent production from the younger players will determine whether Golden State escapes the play-in scramble.
A championship would require nearly everything to go right. A return to the playoffs is a more reasonable target, provided Curry stays healthy and the supporting cast delivers.
The dynasty's clock is ticking, but Curry still has the ball in his hands. And anyone who has watched No. 30 launch a three-pointer knows better than to leave before the final buzzer.
