The Golden State Warriors will enter the 2026-27 NBA season with lots to prove after a remarkably quiet offseason.
The roster remains almost identical to last season, and age is becoming an increasing concern for a team still hoping to contend for a title.
With no major signings or trades over the summer, the Warriors will need their established stars to produce at an elite level.
NBA Analysis Network raises three questions that will define the Golden State Warriors’ 2026-27 campaign.
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Can Kristaps Porzingis return to his 20-point-per-game best?
Kristaps Porzingis had a nightmare 2025-26 season with the Atlanta Hawks and the Warriors, playing just 32 regular-season games.
Porzingis was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome last year, which limited both his availability and effectiveness.
However, the Warriors signed him to a two-year, $40 million deal this offseason, suggesting that he will be fully healthy.
And given the Warriors’ lack of offseason moves, a healthy Porzingis will feel like a new signing who can elevate them to another level.
If the Latvian center averages around 20 points and seven rebounds per game, as he did with the Boston Celtics, the Warriors can exceed expectations.
Will Jimmy Butler get healthy before it’s too late for the Warriors?
The Warriors’ 2025-26 season was effectively over as soon as Jimmy Butler suffered a torn ACL against the Miami Heat on January 19.
Although Stephen Curry is still an All-NBA-caliber player, the Warriors were never going to make any noise without a second star.
Butler was averaging 20 PPG in just 31 minutes last season and was probably good enough to be the second-best player on a championship team.
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, the Warriors will need to stay afloat in the loaded Western Conference until he returns.
The 36-year-old is expected to return between Christmas Day and the All-Star break in February, giving him enough time to ramp up before the playoffs.
Can Yaxel Lendeborg prove his Summer League MVP form is the real deal?
The only significant change to the Warriors’ rotation next season may be their first-round draft selection, Yaxel Lendeborg.
Golden State drafted the 2026 NCAA champion out of Michigan with the 11th overall pick and he has already proven his credentials.
Lendeborg averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4 assists per game as the Warriors won the recent Summer League Championship.
The 23-year-old even outduelled number three pick Cameron Boozer in the final game and won the MVP award.
Particularly with Butler missing the first half of the season, Lendeborg will have more than enough opportunities to shine in the NBA.
No one expects the Warriors to contend with their current roster, but a Rookie of the Year-type season from Lendeborg could change everything.
Considered one of the best defensive prospects in his draft class, he could help the Warriors excel on that end alongside Draymond Green and Porzingis.
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