Entering their first full season as a duo, Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry aim to bring Golden State another NBA title. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
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2024-25 Record: 48-34 (7th in West, lost in Conference Semifinals)
On Feb. 5, the Warriors were 25-25 and 9th in the Western Conference. Then, they traded for Jimmy Butler III. “Jimmy changed our season,” said head coach Steve Kerr. “Flipped everything for us, gave us a chance. We became one of the best teams in the league.”
With Butler and Stephen Curry leading the charge, Golden State finished the season on a 23-9 run, including a 22-5 record with both players in the lineup. The duo carried the Dubs to the No. 7 seed – just four wins behind the No. 2 Rockets – and led the Warriors through the SoFi Play-In Tournament before knocking off Houston in a First Round battle that went the distance.
Then Curry strained his hamstring in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals, as Golden State fell to Minnesota in five games. Despite the loss, the run proved the Warriors’ championship window remains ajar – and the time is now.
Offseason
- Re-signing: Jonathan Kuminga, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, Quinten Post (team option exercised), Gui Santos (team option exercised)
- Additions: Al Horford (free agency)
- Draft: Alex Toohey (52nd pick, acquired via trade), Will Richard (56th pick, acquired via trade)
- Departures: Kevon Looney (free agency)
- Unsigned Free Agents: Braxton Key, Kevin Knox II
The Warriors’ offseason was largely on hold until Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency was resolved – with the two sides officially reaching an agreement on a two-year deal on Sept. 30. The front office followed that up by officially signing free agent Al Horford, who could replace Kevon Looney in the frontcourt, along with a returning Gary Payton II – one of Golden State’s top perimeter defenders. Both moves would bolster last season’s 7th-ranked defense, which allowed 111.0 points per 100 possession.
While the Warriors’ summer moves have been limited, they did add two second-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft: forward Alex Toohey and guard Will Richard, whose scoring instincts were on display in the NBA 2K26 Summer League with 10.3 ppg on 48.5% shooting. Meanwhile, much of Golden State’s core returns, with Curry, Butler, Draymond Green, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski all running it back. The Warriors should be a West contender once again.
"Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler… the window has been re-opened for the Warriors."
22-5 RECORD IN YEAR 1.
BATMAN & ROBIN, YEAR 2 🔜 pic.twitter.com/pPuNXD9bz8
— NBA (@NBA) August 26, 2025
X-factor
Brandin Podziemski. The No. 19 overall pick in the 2023 Draft, Podziemski burst onto the scene two seasons ago. The 6-foot-4 guard served as a do-it-all spark plug for the Dubs, recording 17 games with at least 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists – the second-most among all rookies, behind only Victor Wembanyama (23) – while drawing an NBA-best 38 charges and leading the Warriors in total rebounds (427) and plus-minus (+264).
Expectations were high for Podziemski entering his sophomore campaign. But he shot just 21.5% from 3 before December 1, leaving him fighting for a spot in the rotation. Then, ‘Podz’ found his stroke, going 41.4% from deep the rest of the way, posting career-bests in points (11.7) and effective field goal percentage (53.7%).
The 22-year-old played his best ball at the most critical times, averaging 17.4 points while shooting 48.1% from 3 in April (8 games) as the Warriors battled for playoff position. When the postseason arrived, Podz kept rolling, notably dropping a playoff-high 26 points in a pivotal Game 4 win over Houston, before topping it with 28 in Game 5 against Minnesota.
Now Podziemski will look to carry that momentum in Year 3 and solidify himself as a consistent scoring option alongside Curry and Butler.
> Watch Brandin Podziemski on NBA League Pass
Golden State Warriors 2025-26 X-factor – Brandin Podziemski
Check out some of the best plays from Brandin Podziemski during the 2024-25 season.
One key question
Will the Warriors have enough around Curry to seriously contend? Last season, Golden State’s offensive rating was 13.4 points higher with Curry on the court – his largest on-off offensive differential since 2018-19. Searching for answers, the front office took a chance on Butler, who provided immediate returns.
After Butler entered the lineup on February 8, Curry’s scoring climbed from 22.7 to 27.3 ppg, while Golden State jumped from 18th to eighth in offensive rating and racked up 23 regular-season wins – the third-most of any team in that span.
But in the playoffs, the Warriors again struggled to score without Curry. Their offensive rating fell 16.0 points when he rested and that hamstring injury against Minnesota set up a season-ending four-game skid.
Golden State still has a championship-caliber core, but with Curry (37), Butler (36) and Draymond Green (35) all on the back end of their careers, how the roster shapes up around them – starting with Kuminga’s free agency – could prove decisive.
Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire
The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the West. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Warriors:
“The Warriors were very quiet in free agency, but the mid-season addition of Jimmy Butler III proved to be a net positive for Golden State. He played 30 games in San Francisco last season, averaging 17.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game. He’ll be the X-Factor for a team that has historically relied on Stephen Curry to lead the way.”
Key dates
- Preseason Opener: Oct. 5 vs. Lakers (8:30 ET, ESPN)
- Regular Season Opener: Oct. 21 at Lakers (10 ET, NBC & Peacock)
- Home Opener: Oct. 23 vs. Nuggets (10 ET, ESPN)
- Emirates NBA Cup West Group C Play: Nov. 7 at Nuggets (10 ET, Prime), Nov. 14 at Spurs (9:30 ET, Prime), Nov. 21 vs. Trail Blazers (10 ET, League Pass), Nov. 26 vs. Rockets (10 ET, ESPN)
- NBA Christmas Day: Dec. 25 vs. Mavericks (5 ET, ABC & ESPN)
- Rivals Week: Jan. 22 at Mavericks (7:30 ET, Prime), Jan. 24 at Timberwolves (5:30 ET, ABC)
What they’re saying
Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic: “What matters most is whether Curry can still be elite in a season he’ll end at 38 years old. Whether Green, who turns 36 in March, can still dominate on defense and charge the Warriors with his trademark intensity. Whether Butler can still play like a superstar at 36, and even better than he did last season, now that he has a full year with his new team and a chance to build chemistry.” (Read More)
