Steph Curry is a generational talent who continues to captivate fans, teammates, and opponents nightly, as the Golden State Warriors strive to maximize his remaining years in the NBA by ensuring he competes for another NBA title. Unfortunately for Curry, the only thing the Warriors are competing for right now is a chance to stay relevant in a league filled with fresh, young talent.
With an aging supporting cast and young players not given a fair chance to showcase the true depth of their skills, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins blasted the Warriors franchise for failing Steph in the twilight of his career.
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The window is closing fast
Any excitement the Warriors had from last season’s promising finish has so far been an illusion. Through the first 37 games of the season, they sit at 19-18 and have hovered around the .500 mark all season long, solidifying their place as a good but not good enough team.
Despite his efforts, Curry hasn’t been able to turn things around, despite averaging 28.7 points per game — an incredible feat for someone who’s already 37. This led Perkins to rue the Warriors’ failure to surround him with the right supporting cast.
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“Everyone has failed Steph in this organization,” Perkins said on “NBA Today.” “And I’m talking about Steve Kerr, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler. Like, they can’t get right. This man is averaging 28 points on 47 percent shooting right now, damn near 40 percent from three, and y’all can’t get right.”
“We’re talking about a window where he’s trying to max out — meaning to go win a championship. You didn’t trade for Jimmy Butler last year just to come in and sign him to an extension to be number eight in the Western Conference,” he continued. “And then what’s up with your player development? Why can’t Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga thrive under Steve Kerr?”
With Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green already in the late stages of their careers, the Warriors desperately need some fresh legs to help carry the load. Notably, Golden State has Kuminga, who signed a two-year, $48 million deal in the offseason. However, despite his immense potential, his relationship with Kerr has been ruined; the last time he played was on December 18.
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Meanwhile, Moses Moody has been a steady part of the rotation, but his role fluctuates, depending on the team’s need for shooting or defense. This has frustrated some fans who believe that the young guard deserves more consistent playing time to develop his skills.
“They are failing Steph Curry to the max right now,” Perkins emphasized.
Warriors need another shot in the arm
The Warriors find themselves on the same path that they were on at this juncture of the season last year. Seemingly floating in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight. But they made a move last year that turned their season around, acquiring Butler from the Miami Heat. This season, they may need to make another big move if they want to stay in contention for the playoffs.
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“The league is getting younger as they are getting older. They are the second-oldest team by usage in basketball,” Chiney Ogwumike said. “And so, if you’re going to try to salvage what you can of Steph Curry, you need to be able to infuse some type of energy around him.”
With the trade deadline nearing, fans wait with bated breath to see if the Warriors will make a move to improve their struggling team. The pressure is on for them to find a way to keep up with the younger, more dynamic teams in the league.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.