If you are a Dub Nation fan, everything beyond the Stephen Curry point is hazy right now. He is staying, but what if the retirement rumors turn true? There is no answer in the Bay Area. In the passing season, he averaged 24.5 points per game while averaging 18.0 field goal attempts and 11.2 3-pointer attempts, but failed to dominate the postseason. Unfortunately, when you go this hard in the regular season, it is bound to affect you during the postseason and the team’s chances, too. This is why, months after the Warriors’ elimination from the 2024-25 season, the blame for the 3-point leader’s injury is being passed down. And the reality check is brutal.
ESPN recently released a report covering the under-the-radar concerns for each NBA contender during the 2025-26 season. Several renowned names took the initiative to contribute to the report, with Anthony Slater taking charge to cover the Golden State Warriors. Slater believed that the Warriors ran out of gas over the past few years due to having to push for seeding in March and April. But apart from every issue, what hooked them in a spot was Curry’s injury. Slater further explained how things unfolded.
He reported that “The internal belief is Curry’s hamstring strain in the Minnesota series was a wear-and-tear issue following a sprint into and out of the play-in followed by a seven-game first-round series against Houston”. It is still painful for Golden State Warriors fans to recall when Curry exited Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a concerning injury. Midway through the second quarter of the game, he was repeatedly seen grabbing his left hamstring before walking off the court, and not returning for the rest of the Warriors-Timberwolves playoff series. But Salter believes this wouldn’t have pinched much if other players had stepped up to take charge and not put Curry at risk.
While it’s too late to cry over spilled milk now, delegating responsibility could be done much better in the next season. But who will take charge? Slater had the answer. “They’ll need a notable leap from the younger layer of their roster this season to maintain firm playoff positioning while giving their veterans time off.” Curry has dealt with several injuries throughout his NBA career, mostly related to his ankle, but that was the first time in the history of his 16-year career that the player sustained a hamstring injury! Given this, and Curry’s advanced age, it is clear as day that the Warriors cannot use their best player as much as they would like to, even in the next season. So who steps up?
Mar 30, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) looks up in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
In the absence of Stephen Curry, the Warriors still have Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green to depend on. However, even these two stars are 35 years old. Together, the trio can put out their best in the playoffs, but at least getting the team there should be the will with which the other 12 players should be playing. After this star trio, Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield, the rest of the 2025-26 Warriors roster is below the age of 30! Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Jonathan Kuminga could lead the charge on the offense. Sure, Kuminga’s current future with the Warriors is uncertain, but an increased role might be enough to make him stay and kill two birds with one stone.
Increased minutes won’t do much for this young trio since, together, they averaged just 35.033% from the 3-point line and 44.4% field goals last season. Therefore, these youngsters had better use the off-season to buckle up, or risk injuring Stephen Curry again during a pivotal moment of the season.
The Warriors already got themselves some help when they acquired Jimmy Butler. However, if the trio of Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody cannot handle things by themselves, do they need some more help? A former Bay Area player certainly thinks so.
Baron Davis Wants Warriors to Get Another X-Factor Like Jordan Poole
Baron Davis left the Golden State Warriors a year before Stephen Curry was drafted onto the team, but continued keeping tabs on the Bay Area franchise. During an appearance on ‘Podcast P with Paul George’, Davis brought up his observations by saying that “I like what they got over there with Pod [Brandin Podziemski], with [Moses] Moody, with [Jonathan] Kuminga”. Despite that, he believed that the team needed more. After getting the veteran from the Miami Heat in February, another star face is all that might take to bring the franchise back to a championship-contending level.
“Having Jimmy [Butler] gives them a shot at the Western Conference Title. Now it’s just a matter of what young talent of who can you find that can become that X factor. You got to go find somebody that’s like a valuable asset to this team. The year you won it with Jordan Poole, he was the X factor,” said Davis.
Back when these remarks were made, the Warriors were reportedly the favorite to land Bradley Beal (32 years old) or LeBron James (40 years old). Hardly players who can carry the team long-term, but push them to championship contention for a brief period. Since then, however, Beal joined the LA Clippers, and LeBron has shown no further interest in leaving the Lakers.
Mar 1, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after his dunk against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Recent rumors have linked Josh Giddey to the team, who would be acquired in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga. Giddey with the Warriors would mean another ball handler and playmaker could free up Stephen Curry on the court. Given the 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists he averaged in the previous season, we know he can rise to the occasion.
Davis’s remarks came just a day after Stephen Curry reportedly scoffed at the idea that the Warriors are too old to win a title in 2026. He highlighted some optimism by saying that “I know I got hurt. But you just want to build off that for another year to build chemistry with Jimmy. You know Draymond will do his thing. Hopefully, some of our young guys are able to take another step”. With Curry laying out expectations, the younger roster really should not fail him.
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