Steph Curry Faces Biggest Challenge Yet as Warriors Rebuild Around Him—Can They Survive?. The Golden State Warriors are heading into the 2024-25 NBA season with a roster in transition. Despite a busy offseason that saw them reshuffle their lineup with promising new faces, the Warriors were unable to land a blockbuster trade that could catapult them back into championship contention. Instead, head coach Steve Kerr and the franchise are placing their bets on the development of young players and the continued excellence of Steph Curry and Draymond Green to lead them through what promises to be an unpredictable season.
Perhaps the most shocking development of the offseason was the departure of Klay Thompson. A cornerstone of the Warriors’ four NBA championships and one of the league’s best shooters, Thompson’s free agency move to the Dallas Mavericks sent shockwaves through the league and left Golden State fans reeling. Thompson’s decision marks the end of an era for the iconic Warriors trio—Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson—that dominated the NBA for nearly a decade.
Alongside Thompson’s exit, veteran Chris Paul, who had been acquired just a year earlier, was waived in a cap-clearing move that underlined the Warriors’ need to balance their books. Dario Saric, a key rotational player, also left the team, signing with the defending champion Denver Nuggets. These departures signal a significant change in the Warriors’ approach, as they seem ready to embrace their youth rather than chase after established stars.
In an effort to bolster their bench, the Warriors added several veteran role players, including two-way guard De’Anthony Melton, sharpshooting wing Buddy Hield, and versatile forward Kyle Anderson. While these acquisitions provide solid depth, none of these players possess the star power or the big-game pedigree that Warriors fans have grown accustomed to seeing on their roster. The front office also tried to make a splash by pursuing players like Lauri Markkanen and Paul George, but those efforts ultimately fell short.
Looking forward to seeing the Bahamian sharpshooter on the court 🔜#BESTofNBA pic.twitter.com/qF5GuyfrlK
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) September 13, 2024
While the Warriors didn’t land a superstar, they did score in the 2024 NBA Draft, selecting Quinten Post, a center who brings size and shot-blocking ability to the team. However, their success in the upcoming season will hinge largely on the growth of their young core. Second-year shooting guard Brandin Podziemski and forward Trayce Jackson-Davis are expected to play larger roles after promising rookie campaigns. Jonathan Kuminga, the team’s highly touted 2021 draft pick, remains a wildcard. Though Kuminga has shown flashes of brilliance, this season is widely viewed as a make-or-break year for the fourth-year forward.
Jonathan Kuminga last season:
⚡️Career-high 16.1 PPG
⚡️Most dunks in a single season in Warriors history
⚡️Career-high 74 games played
⚡️Youngest player in franchise history to eclipse 1,000 points in a season pic.twitter.com/R1t5Fh7tOW— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) September 18, 2024
Head coach Steve Kerr has expressed cautious optimism about the upcoming season. “We still have a chance to have a great year, to do a lot of damage,” Kerr said, emphasizing that Curry and Green are still playing at an elite level. While Kerr acknowledged that losing Klay Thompson was a major blow, he focused on the potential of the Warriors’ young talent, which he believes can step up to fill the void.
Kerr’s confidence might be well-placed, given the continued brilliance of Steph Curry. At 36 years old, Curry remains one of the league’s most lethal scorers, and his ability to lift his teammates is unparalleled. Draymond Green, too, continues to anchor the team’s defense, but questions linger about whether his leadership and Curry’s scoring prowess will be enough to guide the Warriors through a hyper-competitive Western Conference.
However, some analysts believe that Kerr’s optimism masks a deeper concern. Klay Thompson’s exit leaves a gaping hole, not just in the Warriors’ offense but also in their locker room. His combination of shooting, defense, and championship experience will be difficult to replace, and it remains to be seen whether role players like Buddy Hield or young talents like Podziemski can handle the pressure of stepping into Thompson’s shoes.
The Warriors were linked to several high-profile trade targets this summer, including Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen and LA Clippers wing Paul George. Both would have provided the kind of offensive firepower and defensive versatility that the Warriors desperately need to compete with the NBA’s elite. However, salary cap restrictions and a lack of enticing trade assets meant that the Warriors had to settle for less impactful acquisitions.
Some fans and pundits view the front office’s inability to land another star as a missed opportunity, especially considering the age of their core players. Steph Curry and Draymond Green are both in their mid-30s, and their championship window is closing. Banking on internal development from unproven players like Kuminga, Podziemski, and Jackson-Davis is a risky strategy for a team that has been in win-now mode for the past decade.
Yet others believe that the Warriors made a smart long-term play by focusing on depth and youth. After years of salary cap juggling, the Warriors are in a better financial position heading into future seasons, and developing young talent could pay dividends down the line. With Curry and Green still playing at a high level, the team has a solid foundation, and if their young players can make the leap, the Warriors could surprise people.
One thing Kerr is particularly excited about is the competitiveness of the upcoming training camp. With several roster spots and roles up for grabs, players like Kuminga, Hield, and Podziemski will have to earn their minutes. Kerr has always been a proponent of competition within the team, and he believes it sets the tone for a successful season.
“I love competition in camp,” Kerr said. “I love to be able to say, ‘Jobs are available. Go earn it!’ That sets you up for a good camp, and I think a tone for a good season, too.”
The Warriors are clearly entering a new chapter, and while the road ahead is uncertain, it promises to be a compelling journey. Whether they can maintain their place among the NBA’s elite or fall into a rebuilding phase will depend on how well their young players develop and how much gas is left in the tanks of Curry and Green.
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