In a stirring critique that has rippled through the NBA community, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has voiced serious concerns over the Golden State Warriors’ strategy—or lack thereof—in building a competitive team around their superstar, Steph Curry. As the Warriors prepare for the 2024-25 NBA season, the question hanging over the franchise is whether they have done enough to support Curry, who is now 36 and still among the league’s elite.
A Disappointing Track Record:
The Warriors, once a perennial powerhouse, have seen their dominance wane in recent years. After missing the playoffs last season and suffering a second-round exit the year before, the once-mighty franchise seems to be at a crossroads. Despite the addition of players like Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson in the offseason, Perkins argues that these moves are not enough to restore the Warriors to their former glory.
Perkins, speaking on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” did not mince words. He suggested that Curry has lost the joy of playing for the Warriors, a joy that was evident during his gold medal-winning stint with Team USA at the Olympics but has been missing in the NBA.
“You still have Steph Curry, a guy that wants to win, a guy that every single season, he wants to go out and win a championship,” Perkins said. “You can see the joy that he played with in the Olympics … Winning the gold medal. It was all over his face, the emotions. We haven’t seen that since they last won the championship. That’s going over two years now.”
Perkins’ comments have struck a nerve with fans and analysts alike, raising the alarm that the Warriors may be squandering the final prime years of one of the greatest players in NBA history.
The Two-Timeline Dilemma:
At the heart of Perkins’ criticism is the Warriors’ controversial “two-timeline” approach—balancing the development of young talent while still contending for championships. This strategy, which has seen the Warriors invest heavily in their future while trying to maintain their competitive edge, has been a point of contention.
The Warriors’ decision to prioritize the development of younger players, like sophomore guard Brandin Podziemski, over pursuing proven talent has been met with skepticism. The franchise reportedly missed out on acquiring Lauri Markkanen, a top trade target who could have significantly bolstered their title hopes, because they were unwilling to part with Podziemski.
For Perkins, this approach is not only flawed but potentially disastrous. “You have to prioritize winning now when you have a player like Steph Curry,” Perkins argued. “He’s not getting any younger, and the window for him to win another championship is closing.”
The Warriors’ Offseason Moves: Too Little, Too Late?
While the additions of Hield, Melton, and Anderson are seen as solid moves, Perkins contends that they fall short of what is needed to truly compete for a title. The Warriors’ biggest loss, Klay Thompson, who left in free agency, has left a significant void. Thompson, one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, was a critical component of the Warriors’ championship runs, and his departure has left many questioning the team’s ability to contend.
Steph Curry, for his part, remains optimistic about the future. In a recent interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Curry emphasized his desire to continue winning and his belief in the Warriors’ ability to turn things around. “Let’s put it this way, it’s a longwinded way of saying that if it is a situation where you’re a bottom feeder and it’s just because you want to stay there, I’d have a hard time with that,” Steph Curry said. “But I don’t think that’s going to be the reality.”
Perkins’ comments highlight a critical concern for the Warriors: Are they wasting the remaining prime years of Steph Curry? Curry has given the franchise everything, leading them to four championships and redefining the way the game is played. Yet, as he approaches the twilight of his career, the Warriors seem more focused on the future than on maximizing the present.
The decisions made this offseason will have far-reaching consequences. If the Warriors fail to make significant strides this season, the scrutiny on their two-timeline approach will only intensify. Fans, analysts, and perhaps even Curry himself, will question whether the franchise has truly done everything possible to make the most of their generational talent.
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