Stephen Curry is used to beginning NBA seasons with championship expectations surrounding the Golden State Warriors. This year, the conversation sounds very different, and Curry made it clear that he noticed the change.
During Warriors media day, coach Steve Kerr said he did not mind that many people were picking Golden State to miss the playoffs. Curry’s reaction to hearing that assessment was immediate and humorous, but it also showed how dramatically expectations have shifted around the franchise.
The Warriors are entering the 2026-27 season after finishing 37-45 in the regular season, reaching the Play-In Tournament, and losing the elimination game for the No. 8 seed to the Phoenix Suns. The team is also dealing with several important injuries. Curry, however, remains focused on what the team can build rather than accepting outside expectations as its ceiling.
Curry was surprised by lowered expectations
Curry was asked about the idea that Golden State could struggle just to reach the playoffs. His response showed how unfamiliar that scenario feels for a player who has spent most of his career competing with championship aspirations.
“That’s how bad it is? To make the playoffs? We went from championship to…” Curry said before briefly walking away from the podium. The moment was clearly playful, but Curry’s reaction also reflected the Warriors’ unusual position.
After years of being among the league’s most established contenders, Golden State is beginning this season with considerably less external confidence.
Warriors are embracing a different approach
Kerr has acknowledged the lower expectations and said they could allow the Warriors to concentrate more heavily on their daily process. Instead of repeatedly discussing championships, Golden State wants to establish better habits and develop a clearer identity.
Kerr said the team is focused on how it teaches and practices every day, with particular attention to details that can improve its performance. He pointed to reducing turnovers and winning smaller battles within games as part of that process.
That represents a notable change from last season’s messaging. Kerr said the Warriors previously discussed goals such as winning the championship and securing home-court advantage, while this year he has deliberately avoided setting a specific external goal.
Fun fact: The Warriors have won 4 NBA championships during Curry’s career, in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022.
Last season created a different starting point
The Warriors finished 37-45 last season, reached the Play-In Tournament, and lost to the Phoenix Suns in the elimination game for the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed. Curry was limited to 43 games because of a lingering knee issue, creating another major obstacle for the team.
Golden State enters the new campaign with several other health concerns. Jimmy Butler is recovering from a torn right ACL, while Moses Moody is recovering from a ruptured left patellar tendon. Neither player is expected to return immediately. Kristaps Porzingis was also ruled out indefinitely to begin training camp because of a health issue.
Those circumstances help explain why outside expectations have dropped. The Warriors still have Curry, Draymond Green, and other experienced players, but the roster needs better health and stronger contributions from its younger pieces to establish consistency.
Curry believes Golden State can compete
Despite the outside skepticism, Curry has not abandoned the idea that the Warriors can compete at a high level. He previously said that he, Kerr, and Green still believe the team can compete for the highest level of success.
Curry has also emphasized the importance of health and acknowledged that the Warriors cannot simply rely on their reputation. The team needs to reinvent aspects of its play while finding ways to keep its veteran core effective.
That outlook fits with Curry’s decision to remain in Golden State. He recently agreed to a two-year, $116 million extension reportedly worth about $20 million less than the maximum available, a move that provides the organization with greater financial flexibility.
His health is another major factor
Curry enters his 18th NBA season at 38, making his availability one of the biggest factors surrounding Golden State’s outlook. After being limited to 43 games last season, Curry said his knee feels great and that he had no limitations entering training camp.
He acknowledged that managing his body will remain important, particularly as the season progresses. Still, Curry said he feels stronger after spending the offseason building a better foundation and understanding how to manage the issue.
Having Curry available gives Golden State an important foundation for its new approach. The Warriors will need him not only to produce but also to help integrate younger players and establish the style Kerr wants the team to develop.
Fun fact: Curry has been selected to 12 NBA All-Star Games during his career.
New faces could change Warriors’ outlook
Golden State’s roster combines its veteran core with younger players who could have larger roles this season. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is among the players expected to receive opportunities as the Warriors attempt to reshape their rotation. Kerr has indicated that Lendeborg could play a significant role.
The team also hopes injured players such as Butler and Moody eventually return and provide another boost. Curry said their energy will remain important even while they are unable to play, because the team wants them to return to a group that has continued progressing.
Kristaps Porzingis is another important piece, although his indefinite absence from the start of training camp creates additional uncertainty. His eventual availability could influence how Golden State uses its frontcourt and how effectively the new-look roster comes together.
Curry wants to see what develops
Curry’s response to the lowered expectations captured the unusual position the Warriors find themselves in. He clearly understands that the team is no longer being viewed through the same championship lens that followed Golden State for much of his career.
At the same time, he is not treating the outside predictions as a final judgment. Curry has repeatedly stressed focusing on the present, figuring out what good basketball looks like for this group, and allowing the season to develop rather than trying to predict its ending.
That approach gives the Warriors a different starting point than they have had in recent years. Curry’s reaction may have been humorous, but his broader message is that Golden State still intends to determine its own identity once the season begins.
TL;DR
- Stephen Curry reacted humorously after hearing that the Warriors are being viewed as unlikely playoff contenders entering the new season.
- Steve Kerr has embraced the lower expectations and wants Golden State to concentrate on its daily process.
- The Warriors finished 37-45 last season and missed the playoffs after losing a play-in game to Phoenix.
- Curry enters his 18th season after saying his knee feels great and that he had no limitations entering training camp.
- Golden State is counting on its veterans, younger players, and the eventual returns of injured contributors to reshape its outlook.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
