The Golden State Warriors are desperately awaiting for some good news amid an incredibly testy season.
The complexion of the Warriors’ season was greatly altered when star wingman Jimmy Butler went down and out with a torn ACL on Jan. 19. Just days later, the team lost star point guard Stephen Curry to a troubling runner’s knee injury.
Ever since, Golden State has been held together by masking tape.
The one somewhat positive development since January was the trade for star big man Kristaps Porzingis, but some fans were more bummed out by losing a young star in Jonathan Kuminga.
As the Warriors currently stand, they await the return of Curry and see what kind of magic he can create with Porzingis as his newest co-star.
With no Butler, the team can get a crystal clear view of the Curry-Porzingis dynamic and if it is worth investing into beyond this season.
Golden State Warriors excited to watch new duo create chemistry
Plainly put, there has been no way for the Warriors to create even a semblance of continuity this season. The injuries to key players have robbed the team of that.
Butler is one, but Golden State has also seen injuries to Seth Curry, Al Horford and Quinten Post. That’s not to mention what happened to Moses Moody last week.
The Dubs are officially a play-in team. The season is now left into the hands of Curry, Porzingis and Draymond Green. Two of the three can close their eyes and ooze chemistry, but it’s that third piece — Porzingis — that there is still some uncertainty about.
The good thing is the Warriors have hope regarding their freshly-acquired big man. His versatility and deep skill set ideally makes him easier to ingratiate, but only time will tell.
In the short time Porzingis has been here, head coach Steve Kerr has already seen multiple positives that should encourage Golden State fans.
“What we’re finding out is we can really play through him,” Kerr said of the 30-year-old big man. “He creates an advantage every time he catches the ball. He didn’t really do that a ton in Boston, because they had so many guys who could create something off the dribble.”
Kerr also holds excitement for what Porzingis may be able to do with the team’s other stars by his side.
“For us right now with no Jimmy and no Steph, we’re just going to him constantly and he’s really handling that well. That makes it exciting when you think about Steph’s return, to have two guys who can create an advantage for us in any possession.”
Warriors hoping for best-case scenario as season winds down
There are just seven games left in Golden State’s 2025-26 campaign. Read that twice. Warriors fans are feeling that twist in their stomachs.
Is that even enough time?
Will Steph even be ready for the play-in game?
Do Steph and Porzingis have enough time to gel?
These are just some of the questions entering fans’ minds. And they are all legitimate ones. There is officially minimal runway for the Warriors to get their superstar back and gear up for the biggest game of the season.
The best-case scenario: Curry returns for Sunday’s game against the Rockets and has five games to develop some kind of chemistry with Porzingis. From there, Golden State can at least feel strong about the first play-in game against the Portland Trail Blazers (or the L.A. Clippers, depending on who finishes at the ninth seed).
Golden State faces a mountain of a task tonight against the streaking San Antonio Spurs.
Porzingis and Curry will both be sidelined. Expect the team to drop its 40th game of the season tonight.
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