After an unbalanced 2024–25 campaign, the Golden State Warriors enter the new season with something they have not had for years: a balanced roster that finally completes their foundation. With new pieces, familiar faces returned, and a system meant to space the floor, the Warriors may be growing into a serious force in the Western Conference once again.
Golden State’s front office made some exciting moves this offseason. The greatest one was the signing of veteran big man Al Horford, adding shooting and intelligence to a center position that has been known for scrappy work rather than spacing. The Warriors have relied on Kevon Looney and Draymond Green defending the paint for years, but neither of them did much in the way of spacing on the court. Horford changes that fundamentally.
He shot well outside last season in Boston and is a high basketball IQ, pass-throwing, and post player. His ability to shoot and stretch the floor contributes to the fact that defense no longer can clog up the paint when off-dribbling Stephen Curry or Jimmy Butler drives. The opposing center is now made to come out by Horford, creating driving lanes and cutting opportunities for the Warriors’ wings. He also provides a consistent presence on the rebounding end, an area the warriors have struggled in recent years. For the first time, Golden State now has a big man who complements their offense philosophy instead of constraining it.
De’Anthony Melton is another crucial component, whose 2023-2024 season got cut short due to a torn ACL. A season ago, he was one of the team’s best positives. While healthy, the Warriors kept a 9-3 record and claimed the number two seed in the western conference due to Melton’s two-way play and hustle. He gave perimeter defense, scoring spurts, and the kind of hustle that helped the Warriors win. If Melton stays healthy, he is a versatile guard who can defend three positions, set the tempo, and hit open shots made possible by Curry’s gravity.
Their depth seems to be better as well. The return of Gary Payton II gives the Warriors his signature defensive pressure, and Brandin Podziemski was a notable find as a high-IQ guard who can shoot, handle the ball, rebound, and guard well above his size. Jonathan Kuminga, whose contract disagreement is now in the rearview, can finally focus solely on basketball. His athleticism and confidence grew a year ago, and with more playing time alongside veterans, he really has the potential to be a solid difference maker.
But age is a concern. Curry, Butler, Horford, and Green are all in their 30s, and how they are balanced in terms of minutes will be extremely critical. Kerr will need to find the right balance of playing time between experienced and young players, and he will likely lean more on Podziemski, Moody, and Kuminga during the regular season. If the Warriors are able to stay healthy and avoid burnout, their combination of veteran presence and young blood would be potentially dangerous in a playoff setting.
The big picture of the game will inherently be about defense, spacing, and pace. With Horford forcing defenses out and Melton and Payton defending on the perimeter, Golden State can regain itself as a team that thrives on cutting, ball movement, and shooting. Draymond remains the defensive anchor, Curry remains the offense, and Butler adds a veteran shot-maker to help share some scoring load off Curry.
Golden State has never been a team constructed on star power but on rhythm and chemistry. This season, the Warriors are on track to shock folks once more. The question is if the Warriors might be back in the contention debate where they rightfully belong.