The Golden State Warriors may have not hit the ground running this season, but they aren’t entering a rebuild just yet.
Everyone knew the 2019-20 NBA season would be a test for the Golden State Warriors. Few franchises can overcome the type of summer that the Dubs had. Losing Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson is a blow that would end most dynasties.
Even so, the strength of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and D’Angelo Russell kept the Warriors in good faith. Leading up to the regular season, many assumed the Dubs would surprise critics with a successful showing this year.
Through three games, this has not been the case. A tough 0-2 start had everyone hitting the panic button with Green going as far as to say the Warriors are rebuilding.
“I guess just about everybody except Tim Duncan has been through it,” Green told Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Green is, of course, referring to the legendary win rate Duncan experienced with the Spurs, never having a losing season.
Though the Warriors are facing more adversity than the Spurs ever did, that doesn’t mean they are entering a full rebuild. It’s likely Green was using this as a chance to spur inspiration into the team.
A normal rebuild would imply the team is going to struggle for a few years before finally becoming a contender again. In the case of the Warriors, they will continue to compete as they rebuild.
Let’s start with Curry. At 31-years of age, Curry’s time as a prolific superstar is limited. Nonetheless, he has shown no signs of slowing down and will undoubtedly continue to be an elite talent for years to come.
Meanwhile, Green and Thompson will have no problem remaining effective. Thompson is too good of a shooter to become irrelevant while Green has always been the heart and soul of the Dubs locker room.
This is where Russell comes into play. The young All-Star will be asked to carry the franchise soon and this season is simply a passing of the torch. The Warriors must focus on developing Russell to be the face of the organization soon.
While they do this, the Warriors can continue to compete for a playoff spot. This team is still talented enough to reach the postseason, they simply need more time to gel together as there are many new faces on the roster.
By the end of the year, we can expect the Warriors to have taken a significant step forward in building for their future. The 2020 Free Agency class will also be huge for the Dubs.
However, that doesn’t mean they will sacrifice any of their current talents. Let’s give this team some more time before we rule them out as contenders.