The recent injuries to Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry, understandably, has dampened expectations for Warriors fans this season.

A recent poll showed most of Dub Nation wants Curry to sit for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. Some fans even have insinuated it would be pointless for Golden State to make the NBA playoffs, such as Anthony in Brentwood, a caller into 95.7 The Game on Tuesday.

“Now I would never advocate losing on purpose. That’s not what I’m saying,” the caller explained. “But I really have to be the voice of reason with the fans … this thing is over. If Steph can want to come back, that’s great. Steph can want to come back, and he can play.

“But, we’re not beating OKC. We’re not beating San Antonio. We’re not beating the Lakers. And we’re not beating Denver or Minnesota. So, like, get in the play-in for what? To get kicked out in the first round?”

Later in the day, 95.7’s “Willard and Dibs” asked Steve Kerr about those comments, and the Warriors coach issued a clear rebuttal to that mentality.

“Oh, so we should just quit?” Kerr told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley. ” … What is the point of what we’re doing? It’s competition. “We’re playing to compete and to go and see what we can do and give ourselves a chance. I don’t understand the concept of, ‘You know what, I don’t think we can beat any of these teams, so let’s just not try to win.’ Like, what is that? That makes no sense to me.

“I don’t know, are we advocating to tank and get in the lottery? Give me the counter to, ‘Hey, let’s go compete and do what we’ve trained to do our entire lives, and compete and give ourselves a chance.’ Like, what’s the point, other than that? You tell me, what are we doing this for?”

Even if Golden State were to attempt to tank for the rest of the season, it would have a tough time gaining any chance at a top pick. With 14 games remaining, the Warriors likely wouldn’t finish with better than the ninth-best lottery odds — which would give them a 4.5-percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick and about a 20-percent shot at a top-four selection.

On the other hand, of course, Curry isn’t getting any younger; he just turned 38 years old. So, the organization’s title window already doesn’t have much time left.

“Every opportunity to make the playoffs, you want it, because you always have a chance,” Kerr continued. “And I understand, without Jimmy, we’re going to be heavy underdogs against just about everybody. But what’s the point? The whole point is, we play. We compete. We get after it. This is what we do. This is what we love.

“I mean, my God, the thrill of the playoffs and going and trying to beat the best teams — there’s nothing like it. What, we’re going to just quit, and just sit around at our house and give ourselves a 1 percent chance of getting the first pick? I’m sorry, this is not for me.”

Finally, Kerr also pointed out the advantages of getting the Warriors’ young players, such as Quinten Post, Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos, more playoff experience that could be invaluable in the future.

In other words, don’t expect Kerr and Golden State simply to keel over and give up anytime soon.

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