Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr usually errs on the side of honesty. He openly called the Warriors a “fading dynasty” last season and he recently warned fans that Stephen Curry is notgoing to be play every single game early in this campaign.
“I would just come out and tell the fans out there to be mindful when you're buying the tickets because we've got not just Steph, but we've got multiple vets we are going to try to manage because it's the only way we can do this,” Kerr said.
On the one hand, it’s actually very thoughtful for Kerr to do this. Fans who want to see Curry understandably don’t want to drop a bunch of money on tickets, only to see Golden State’s B-squad.
Some fans may be disappointed though because Curry is obviously such a big draw, and fans in Arizona for example may be robbed of a chance to see No. 30 since that seems like a night he will most likely have off.
Still, this is absolutely the right move by the Warriors. Curry has said his goal is to play in 65-70 games this season. That’s pretty ambitious when one considers he only played in 43 games last season, but if he is paced correctly and the Warriors don’t run him into the ground, he at least has a chance.
Warriors may struggle to begin the season with veterans limited
As our own G.C. Bellchamber noted, the fact that Curry will have a more limited ramp-up early in the season does not exactly inspire a ton of confidence in how the Warriors will look to begin the 2026-27 campaign. Add in the fact that Kerr is trying to implement a new offense and the status of Kristaps Porzingis is up in the air, and it's very easy to see Golden State stumbling coming out of the gates.
The only way the Warriors will have a legitimate shot at the playoffs is if they’re able to hang in there and get contributions from some of their other players. The goal has to be to have a record around .500 in the first half and show enough life that a trade at the deadline, plus the return of Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, can give the team momentum heading into a likely Play-In appearance.
The best way to do that is to ensure that Curry is well rested and not overextended early on. If he’s managed smartly, he can be with the team throughout the year and give the Warriors a chance to win more often. While that may put fans in a tough spot, it’s the best thing to do for the team.
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