Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III, and Draymond 25-26 Thread

[TroubleS0me]

2024-25 Record: 48-34 (7th in West, lost in Conference Semifinals)

Entering their first full season as a duo, Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry aim to bring Golden State another NBA title.

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

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.

Offseason

Re-signing: Quinten Post (team option exercised), Gui Santos (team option exercised), Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga
Additions: Al Horford, Seth Curry
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, Jonathan Kuminga (restricted), Pat Spencer

The Warriors’ offseason is largely on hold until Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency is resolved.

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.

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[eminence]

I'm going to miss Kevon Looney in GS.

[Caneman786]

Sleepers to win it all

When healthy Jimmy and healthy Steph have synergy, it's insane.

[jalengreen]

Sleepers to win it all

When healthy Jimmy and healthy Steph have synergy, it's insane.

I have a hard time seeing it tbh. Last season they got taken to seven by a pretender Houston team. They’ll enter the 2026 postseason with their core 3 at age 38, 36, 36. Added a 39 yo. A team that old getting through a season is a tall task, and I dunno how much pressure the younger guys are really going to be able to relieve. Maybe like the 5th best team in the west

[TroubleS0me]

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[Caneman786]

Sleepers to win it all

When healthy Jimmy and healthy Steph have synergy, it's insane.

I have a hard time seeing it tbh. Last season they got taken to seven by a pretender Houston team. They’ll enter the 2026 postseason with their core 3 at age 38, 36, 36. Added a 39 yo. A team that old getting through a season is a tall task, and I dunno how much pressure the younger guys are really going to be able to relieve. Maybe like the 5th best team in the west

5th best team in the West and the 6th best team in the league.

That's where sleepers live.

Houston weren't pretenders by the way. Good team.

[parsnips33]

Sleepers to win it all

When healthy Jimmy and healthy Steph have synergy, it's insane.

Let's shock the world baby

[parsnips33]

I'm going to miss Kevon Looney in GS.

It's not gonna feel real for me until Game 1. Real tears will be shed once that tribute video drops

[jalengreen]

Sleepers to win it all

When healthy Jimmy and healthy Steph have synergy, it's insane.

I have a hard time seeing it tbh. Last season they got taken to seven by a pretender Houston team. They’ll enter the 2026 postseason with their core 3 at age 38, 36, 36. Added a 39 yo. A team that old getting through a season is a tall task, and I dunno how much pressure the younger guys are really going to be able to relieve. Maybe like the 5th best team in the west

5th best team in the West and the 6th best team in the league.

That's where sleepers live.

Houston weren't pretenders by the way. Good team.

Any team with {username} as its #1 option is unfortunately a pretender. Though if your range is wide enough to consider the 2025 Rockets to be contenders then I certainly understand thinking as much of the Warriors as well

[EmpireFalls]

They do seem woefully small, especially if Kuminga doesn’t play/gets traded. You’re relying on Dray/Horford, whose ages add up to 75 and who, Quinten Post? Is that enough rebounding and rim protection in the era of the double big?

Feels like a move has yet to be made. Maybe Vooch?

[tsherkin]

Houston weren't pretenders by the way. Good team.

Good team? Absolutely.

Pretenders? Also absolutely. They never had a prayer of contending.

[Caneman786]

I have a hard time seeing it tbh. Last season they got taken to seven by a pretender Houston team. They’ll enter the 2026 postseason with their core 3 at age 38, 36, 36. Added a 39 yo. A team that old getting through a season is a tall task, and I dunno how much pressure the younger guys are really going to be able to relieve. Maybe like the 5th best team in the west

5th best team in the West and the 6th best team in the league.

That's where sleepers live.

Houston weren't pretenders by the way. Good team.

Any team with {username} as its #1 option is unfortunately a pretender. Though if your range is wide enough to consider the 2025 Rockets to be contenders then I certainly understand thinking as much of the Warriors as well

When I said the Rockets weren't pretenders, I didn't mean they had a chance at title contention, I meant that their record was accurate and they were actually a good team (unlike what many people would say that they just were getting lucky). There's no shame in getting taken to 7 by the 2025 Rockets that had a +5 SRS. They likely would have beaten the Grizzlies or Timberwolves, and they'd have stomped on the Lakers (a real example of a "pretender" with their fake 3 seed).

In any case, after Jimmy Butler joined, the 2025 Warriors were a level above those Rockets, and this is even more clear when you account for the fact that Jimmy was crippled during the series. I'd say they were around a +7 SRS team? Many teams have won championships at that level.

And this season's Warriors will probably be even better. The Warriors are bona-fide contenders. Not in the upper echelon or top four teams. But right underneath that.

They're one of the teams that when things are clicking and everyone's healthy, they can hang with any team from OKC to the Cavs.

[TroubleS0me]

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[eminence]

I'm expecting he'll get dealt when he's eligible to be traded this season.

[parsnips33]

Cannot wait for the Jimmy (Seth) Curry combo, hoping for some Miami magic

[TroubleS0me]

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[eminence]

I'm excited for the abbreviated box-scores that'll have 'St. Curry' on them this season.

[parsnips33]

I'm excited for the abbreviated box-scores that'll have 'St. Curry' on them this season.

Might need to set up a little shrine to Saint Curry

[jalengreen]

I'm excited for the abbreviated box-scores that'll have 'St. Curry' on them this season.

Let’s just go with W. Curry at that point

[parsnips33]

It's only been one pre-season game, but the Horford fit in the Warriors system seems pretty perfect