The Golden State Warriors are gearing up for the 2025-26 NBA season with a roster that has everyone in the basketball world buzzing. With four projected starters aged 35 or older—Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and the newly acquired Al Horford—the Warriors are defying the league’s youth movement and betting big on experience, basketball IQ, and a deep supporting cast. But can this veteran-laden squad hold up over the grind of an 82-game season and make another run at the championship? That’s the question on everyone’s mind as the team prepares for its preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers this Sunday at Chase Center.
Golden State’s core is nothing short of legendary. Curry, now 37, remains one of the league’s premier point guards and is coming off a season that ended prematurely due to a hamstring injury suffered in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. That injury was a turning point for the Warriors, who lost the series in five games and saw their playoff hopes dashed. Draymond Green, now 35, called last season’s playoff push “crazy,” reflecting on the physical toll of fighting for a postseason berth down the stretch. Jimmy Butler, 36, joined the team in February and immediately became a key contributor, leading the squad in assists during that fateful series and forging a strong on-court partnership with rising star Jonathan Kuminga.
Speaking of Kuminga, the 22-year-old forward is back with the Warriors and eager to build on his breakout performance from last spring. With Curry sidelined, Kuminga stepped up to lead Golden State in scoring during the Timberwolves series, shooting an impressive 54 percent from the field. “I think it’s very important that we’re here now, early, trying to figure each other out,” Kuminga said during training camp. “And I feel like we actually did [figure each other out] going through that series.” He added, “It’s very easy and simple to play with Jimmy. And we actually get to sit down more now. I get to go ask him certain questions. How does he like to play? What does he like? I feel like us having a lot of time together, me being healthy, him being healthy, him being here from day one training camp-wise…it’s going to help us figuring out certain things about each other going forward.”
Butler’s impact on the Warriors has been significant, both on and off the court. However, the six-time All-Star is already dealing with a minor setback. He tweaked his ankle during Thursday’s training camp session—a fact confirmed by head coach Steve Kerr. “There’s nothing major going on there,” Kerr said on Friday. “But we’ll be careful.” Butler’s status for Sunday’s preseason opener remains uncertain, but the injury is not considered serious. Kerr has indicated that if Butler does play, he’ll be limited to about 15 minutes, the same as Curry and Green. The Warriors are taking a cautious approach with their veterans, understanding that their health is paramount for the long haul.
Al Horford, the 39-year-old center and 18-year NBA veteran, is the newest addition to the Warriors’ starting lineup. Horford’s reputation as a lethal outside shooter is well-earned—he’s made at least 100 three-pointers in each of the last three seasons—and his ability to space the floor is already paying dividends in training camp. “It’s great, because it opens the middle of the floor,” said Gary Payton II, one of the team’s key bench contributors. “We can get back to doing what we love to do, and give guys like JK (Jonathan Kuminga) a whole bunch of room to get downhill.” Kerr also noted that Horford’s presence will benefit young bigs like Trayce Jackson-Davis, who now has a clearer path for playing time with his rim-running style, and Quinten Post, who is expected to take a step forward in his second season.
The Warriors’ bench is a study in contrasts, blending veterans like Payton II and De’Anthony Melton with promising young talent. Melton, however, is currently sidelined and will be reevaluated in four weeks, likely missing the start of the regular season. Rookie Will Richard, another 22-year-old, has impressed teammates and coaches alike with his defense and basketball IQ. “He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, is in the right place on defense,” Moses Moody observed. “You can tell he’s not like a freshman coming out. He’s been on a (NCAA) championship team, and he carries himself like such.”
Managing the minutes and health of Golden State’s older stars will be the defining challenge of the season. Kerr is well aware of the risks, especially in today’s high-paced, three-point-heavy NBA. “That’s always a factor with an older group,” he explained. “Especially in today’s game — the pace, the mileage these guys are putting on their bodies with the 3-point spacing. That’s why we have a whole performance team to track that and to help us monitor minutes. Guys are going to be needing to take games off. Older guys tend to get banged up a little bit more. So we have to be able to win games without some of our key guys this year. That’s already been something that we discussed as a team. I feel really confident with the young guys that we have, that they can step up and fill shoes when those shoes are empty.”
General manager Mike Dunleavy echoed that confidence, dismissing concerns about the team’s age and durability. “My headline is this team heading into the season has got a great shot,” Dunleavy told reporters. “That’s where you want to be when Steve Kerr is your coach, Steph Curry is your best player and you have guys like Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green and so on and so forth. We’re excited about this group.”
As the Warriors prepare to face the Lakers—who will be without LeBron James for the entire preseason—the focus is on building chemistry, managing workloads, and integrating new faces. The team has one more practice before tip-off, and fans are eager to see how this unique blend of seasoned veterans and emerging stars will mesh on the court.
With so much talent, experience, and strategic depth, Golden State is poised to be a force in the Western Conference. But the true test will come as the season wears on and the physical demands mount. For now, the Warriors are healthy (with a few bumps and bruises), motivated, and ready for another shot at NBA glory. The journey begins Sunday night at Chase Center, with all eyes on the Bay Area’s boldest basketball experiment yet.
