{"id":699476,"date":"2026-04-05T12:09:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/699476\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T12:09:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:09:28","slug":"warriors-steph-curry-gets-honest-about-fit-with-kristaps-porzingis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/699476\/","title":{"rendered":"Warriors&#8217; Steph Curry Gets Honest About Fit With Kristaps Porzingis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t<img width=\"780\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2268382689_a741ec-e1774624550340.jpg\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Warriors Kristaps Porzingis free agency contract decision\"   decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA &#8211; MARCH 25: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a break in play against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Chase Center on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/golden-state-warriors\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Golden State Warriors<\/a> are preparing to welcome <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/stephen-curry\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Stephen Curry<\/a> back to the floor on Sunday night against the <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/houston-rockets\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Houston Rockets<\/a> at Chase Center. The 38-year-old has missed the last 27 games. Golden State went 9-18 without him and slid to the tenth seed in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The roster Curry returns to looks nothing like the one he left. <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/kristaps-porzingis\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kristaps Porzingis<\/a> arrived before the trade deadline in a deal that sent <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Jonathan Kuminga\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/jonathan-kuminga\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"215355\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Kuminga<\/a> to the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Atlanta Hawks\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/atlanta-hawks\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"215354\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Hawks<\/a>. Sunday will be the first time they share the court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Curry was asked about what the partnership could look like. His answer made it clear how much he has been thinking about it.<\/p>\n<p>Curry on The Fit With Porzingis<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Curry did not hold back when describing what he sees in the pairing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">\u201cI was telling him, \u2018I don\u2019t know how people are gonna guard our pick-and-roll,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/iGY5kwMIS2g?si=SEa2gO5fFHf-YP5T\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Curry said<\/a>. \u201cAnytime you have a talent like that, and two guys that can demand attention, it\u2019s always a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The excitement was genuine. Curry spoke about Porzingis\u2019s ability to stretch the floor as a shooting big, operate in the post, and force defenses into difficult choices. The geometry of the pick-and-roll between two players with that kind of gravity creates problems that most defenses simply cannot solve cleanly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Curry acknowledged there will be an adjustment period as the two figure out timing and reads together. But the foundation is there, and the anticipation is real.<\/p>\n<p>What Porzingis Has Done Without Curry<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Porzingis has been productive since arriving in the Bay Area despite the team\u2019s struggles around him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">He is averaging <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/kristaps-porzingis\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists<\/a> across 12 games as a Warrior. The offensive skill set has been evident from the start. His ability to score from all three levels gives Golden State a dimension they lacked before the trade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Porzingis himself has spoken about the anticipation of playing alongside Curry. He said recently that he believes they will click and pointed to the defensive attention Curry draws as something that will simplify scoring opportunities for everyone on the floor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The trade cost Golden State a former lottery pick in Kuminga. The organization made it clear at the time that they saw Porzingis as more than a rental. General manager <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Mike Dunleavy\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/mike-dunleavy\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"215356\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mike Dunleavy<\/a> Jr. described the move as part of the team\u2019s broader vision, not just a short-term play for this season.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5837344\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5837344\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773765438_GettyImages-2266941807_ca4bd4-e1773758520854.jpg\" alt=\"Warriors Kristaps Porzingis injury update vs Celtics\" width=\"780\" height=\"438\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5837344\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyKristaps Porzingis of the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n<p>The Stakes for the Final Stretch<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Curry\u2019s return comes with the play-in tournament approaching fast. Golden State sits tenth in the West. Winning two play-in games on the road would be required just to reach the first round.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The window to build chemistry between Curry and Porzingis is narrow. Every minute they share the court between now and the postseason matters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Porzingis enters free agency this summer. How the partnership with Curry looks over the final stretch could influence whether he sees Golden State as his long-term home. He has spoken about the quality of the organization\u2019s medical staff and the comfort he feels in the building. But he has also been honest about needing to see what is out there after a season that did not go as planned.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The next few weeks will tell both sides everything they need to know.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5881034\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5881034\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2257143725-e1775319400501.jpg\" alt=\"Stephen Curry\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5881034\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyStephen Curry is set to return against the Houston Rockets.<\/p>\n<p>Final Word for the Warriors<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Curry and Porzingis have talked about it. They have imagined what the pick-and-roll could look like. They have expressed belief that the fit will work. None of that matters until they step on the court together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Sunday night against Houston is the beginning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Curry said he does not know how people will guard it. The rest of the league is about to find out.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/keithwatkinsnba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keith Watkins<\/a> Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/keithwatkinsnba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">More about Keith Watkins<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Warriors\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA &#8211; MARCH 25: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":682337,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3794],"tags":[7,292,194,4066,6,211],"class_list":{"0":"post-699476","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston-rockets","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-houston","10":"tag-houston-rockets","11":"tag-houstonrockets","12":"tag-nba","13":"tag-rockets"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116352035404590003","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=699476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699476\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/682337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=699476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=699476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=699476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}