The Golden State Warriors came into the 2025-26 season with high hopes-championship DNA, a healthy core, and a belief that they could still contend in a loaded Western Conference. But nearly two months in, reality has hit hard.
At 13-15, the Warriors are a team in search of answers. And while Stephen Curry continues to carry the weight of the franchise, even he admits this version of the Warriors just isn’t getting it done right now.
“Obviously, [we] aren’t a good team right now because our record says [so],” Curry said following their recent one-point loss to the Phoenix Suns. “Feeling this pain right now and searching… could be a good thing if we do something about it.”
That 99-98 loss to Phoenix wasn’t just another L in the standings-it was a snapshot of the Warriors’ season so far. Curry logged 33 minutes but managed just 15 points, a rare off night for the two-time MVP. And while the game was within reach until the final buzzer, the Warriors couldn’t close it out-something that’s been a recurring theme this season.
But if there’s one thing we know about Curry, it’s that he doesn’t shy away from adversity. At 37, he’s still the emotional and tactical engine of this team. And even when the body starts to bark back, his leadership never wavers.
That body, though, has been a factor. Curry missed time earlier this season after suffering a quadriceps injury in a game against the Houston Rockets back on November 26. The diagnosis: a contusion combined with a muscle strain in the VMO (vastus medialis oblique), a key stabilizing muscle in the quad.
“The hardest part is getting full range of motion back, which I only got back 3-4 days ago,” Curry explained. “Right now it’s just a pain tolerance thing and getting the strength back at it.”
That injury came at a time when the Warriors could least afford it. Already struggling to find rhythm, Curry’s absence only deepened the team’s woes. Without their floor general, the offense lacked its usual flow, and the defense-already inconsistent-suffered even more without his communication and leadership on the floor.
Still, if there’s a silver lining, it’s that we’ve seen this movie before. Just last season, the Warriors turned things around in the second half, going on a run that reminded everyone why you can never count out a team with this much experience and championship pedigree. The question is whether they can summon that same spark again-this time with an older core and a tougher road ahead.
Curry’s comments reflect a player who understands the stakes. He’s not sugarcoating the situation, but he’s also not folding.
“Feeling this pain… could be a good thing,” he said. That’s the mindset of a leader who’s been through the battles, who knows that sometimes the lowest points can become turning points-if the team responds the right way.
For now, the Warriors sit in that uncomfortable middle ground-out of rhythm, under .500, and searching for consistency. But with Curry back on the floor and slowly working his way back to full strength, there’s still a flicker of hope that this season hasn’t slipped away just yet.
What comes next will depend on more than just Curry’s health. The supporting cast needs to step up, the defense needs to tighten, and head coach Steve Kerr will have to find combinations that work. But if the Warriors are going to make another late-season push, it all starts with No. 30-still the heart of the dynasty, still fighting to keep the window open.