The Golden State Warriors season is not going to plan. But they are not going to give up yet.
Even before Jimmy Butler suffered a torn ACL, the Golden State Warriors were a clear rung below the top contenders in the Western Conference.
Now with the playoffs just weeks away, the Warriors rank a lowly 10th in the West.
Their 36-39 record is enough to sneak into the Play-In Tournament, with the 11th placed Grizzlies only securing 11 wins.
But whether they can progress to secure a proper playoff berth may depend on Stephen Curry’s fitness.
Curry has been out since January 30 with a knee injury, a double blow for the Warriors to combine with Butler’s absence.
Is it fair for the Warriors to have any expectations at all on Curry making an impact when he returns?
This is a topic of debate, but teammate Draymond Green is optimistic that Curry will return, based on what he is hearing behind the scenes.
Draymond Green on Stephen Curry
Draymond Green has been a mainstay for the Warriors, playing 62 games so far this season.
The veteran told his YouTube channel that Stephen Curry is eager to return and he does not expect the Warriors will ‘shut him down’ for the season.
Green explained: “What I will tell you is, I don’t think Steph is getting shut down for the season.
“I do know that Steph is doing all that he can to get back. I do know that he’s progressing well on the court. And I do know that he’s very, very eager to get back out there.
“And what I can assure is whether it’s 1 regular season game, or 5 regular season games. Steph wants to play. And he’s going to do all that he can, he’s been doing all that he can and things are really looking up.”
Curry’s potential return gives the Warriors a little reason to hope. Without him they have no chance to make an impact even if they progress through the Play-In.
It is not realistic to expect a Warriors title run, but if Steph returns fresh and at his best, they always have a chance to beat the team in front of them.
GSW SEASON SPLITS // 2025-26 CAMPAIGN
| PERIOD | G | RECORD | WIN % | PPG | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WITH STEPHEN CURRY (PRE-JAN 30) | 50 | 27-23 | .540 | 118.4 | 38.2% |
| WITHOUT CURRY (SINCE JAN 30) | 25 | 9-16 | .360 | 109.1 | 33.5% |
| TOTAL SEASON STATS | 75 | 36-39 | .480 | 115.3 | 36.6% |
Warriors form dip
The numbers show how the Golden State Warriors have struggled since Stephen Curry was ruled out.
They had a winning record prior to his injury, and have won only 9 of the 25 games they have played without him.
To put their .360 win percentage into context without Curry, this is worse than the Chicago Bulls (.387) and the Milwaukee Bucks (.392), two non-playoff teams in the East.
Curry may return this season, but questions remain over what the team’s direction will be when he is long gone.
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