The Golden State Warriors enter the 2025‑26 NBA season with a packed schedule, a mostly healthy star trio, and lingering questions about role‑player injuries. Expect critical matchups against the Lakers, Nuggets and Celtics, while health updates for Kuminga, Wiggins and Poole could shape the team’s push for a top‑four Western Conference seed.
2025‑26 Calendar Overview
The full season itinerary features 41 home games at the Chase Center and a slate of marquee contests that will define the Warriors’ fortunes. Golden State faces each Pacific Division rival twice and meets the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies twice each, both of which finished near the top of the West last season. Early highlights include a three‑game road stretch in November with a showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers, followed by a back‑to‑back home series versus the Boston Celtics—the only Eastern Conference opponent hosted in the first half of the year.
The schedule also underscores the grind of an 82‑game campaign, with five back‑to‑back sets and three instances of three games in four nights. Managing minutes for veteran stars while giving younger talent opportunities in lower‑stakes games will be essential.
Core Roster and New Additions
The Warriors remain anchored by the iconic trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Curry, now in his 13th season, continues to deliver elite shooting splits; Thompson’s full‑health return restores a lethal perimeter threat; and Green provides the defensive intensity and leadership that tilt close games.
Supporting the core, Golden State added veteran point guard Chris Paul on a one‑year deal, giving Curry a seasoned floor‑general to share ball‑handling duties. Former All‑Star forward Jae‑Sean Tate joins as a versatile stretch‑four who can space the floor and guard multiple positions. The development of second‑year guard Jonathan “J‑B” Barnes and rookie center Malik “Mack” Osei remains a focal point for head coach Steve Kerr.
Key Supporting Players
- Chris Paul – Provides veteran leadership and reduces Curry’s play‑making load.
- Jae‑Sean Tate – Offers floor spacing and defensive versatility.
- Jonathan “J‑B” Barnes – Emerging guard with potential to contribute off the bench.
- Malik “Mack” Osei – Rookie center developing inside presence.
Current Injury Landscape
While Curry, Thompson and Green cleared preseason physicals, the roster carries a mix of minor setbacks that could affect early‑season lineups.
- Jonathan Kuminga – Listed as “questionable” after a Grade‑2 ankle sprain suffered in the final preseason game; may see limited explosiveness.
- Andrew Wiggins – Expected to miss the first two weeks due to a lingering hamstring strain; team adopts a cautious approach to avoid relapse.
- Jordan Poole – Cleared to practice but out for opening night because of a minor meniscus irritation discovered during a routine scan.
Coach Kerr has leaned on Chris Paul to facilitate the offense while providing Curry strategic rest in the first half of games, experimenting with lineups that blend veteran reliability with youthful energy.
Playoff Implications
The interplay of a demanding schedule, a healthy star core, and lingering role‑player injuries creates a nuanced outlook for the Warriors’ playoff aspirations. Currently positioned within the top six of the Western Conference, the margin between the third and seventh seeds is tightening.
If Curry and Thompson maintain scoring efficiency and the supporting cast stays healthy, Golden State can contend for a top‑four seed, securing a first‑round home‑court advantage. Extended absences for Kuminga or Wiggins could expose depth issues, especially against high‑tempo teams like the Memphis Grizzlies that thrive on transition opportunities.
Kerr’s strategy of resting stars during back‑to‑back sets aims to preserve health for the crucial March‑April stretch, though it risks ceding ground to aggressive rivals. Future roster moves—potentially a mid‑season trade for a veteran wing or defensive specialist—will likely be guided by injury trajectories and the team’s standing.
Season Outlook
As the Warriors step onto the hardwood for opening night, they carry the weight of a franchise that has reinvented itself across eras. The 2025‑26 season presents a fresh chapter where schedule intensity, roster health, and strategic flexibility will determine whether Golden State adds another banner to the Chase Center or shifts toward rebuilding.
Fans and analysts will watch closely for Curry’s threes, Green’s defensive mastery, and the subtle signs that reveal how the team navigates the relentless grind of an NBA season that feels both familiar and unexpectedly volatile.