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Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors smiles while chewing on his mouthguard during the third quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets.
Veteran sharpshooter Steph Curry does not believe the Golden State Warriors have enough pieces to compete for an NBA title in the 2025-26 season.
While speaking to reporters on August 15, Curry admitted that the Warriors need more help to truly compete with Western Conference powerhouses such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, a year after the team was bounced out of the second round of the playoffs.
“We have a really good team, and we do know we need some pieces to help get us to the next level,” Curry said.
Still, the four-time NBA champion did not sound worried about the Warriors’ dormant offseason, expressing belief that the team can build off the second half of the 2024-25 season, when they went 23-7 with Jimmy Butler III in the lineup.
“My confidence is built on the identity that we were able to create over the last third of the regular season last year (and) the playoff journey,” he said.
‘Control What You Can Control’
Speaking further on the Warriors’ quiet offseason, Curry said the team can “prepare through that uncertainty” with an intense training camp next month.
“I think the veteran presence that we have — with me, Jimmy [Butler], Draymond [Green] – like, we understand how to prepare through that uncertainty and be able to hit the ground running in training camp, knowing we should have some movement by then.”
“…You control what you can control,” he continued. “And no matter how many new experiences you have or whatever the difference is from this offseason to the previous ones, you don’t let it affect your own personal preparation for the season and then the conversations that we’re having on what we need to do to get ready.”
The Warriors are widely expected to sign free agents Al Hoford and De’Anthony Melton, but have been unable to do so due to the Jonathan Kuminga contract impasse.
Can Warriors Afford to Get Older?
While Horford, 39, will surely help Golden State fill a void at the center spot, some analysts have warned the team that the acquisition will only make them older.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater believes the Warriors may regress with Horford’s addition.
“Jimmy Butler III will turn 36 before training camp. Draymond Green will turn 36 in March. Stephen Curry will turn 38 before the playoffs. Al Horford, the free agent the basketball world has ticketed for the Warriors, will turn 40 during next June’s NBA Finals,” Slater wrote. “That’s four projected starters attempting to fight off the aging process against a league exploding with young and improving talent.”
“But the last time we saw all four, they were still highly productive. Curry finished as a second-team All-NBA guard. Green finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting,” Slater wrote. “Butler joined the Warriors and, when paired with Curry, helped them close the regular season with a 22-5 record. Horford was a vital part of the Celtics’ playoff run.”
The Warriors have also been linked to former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons.
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan
