SAN FRANCISCO - Stephen Curry is still the face of the Golden State Warriors, still the player who can bend a game to his will, still the guy who can pile up 22 points in the second half and finish things off in familiar fashion.
But Thursday night’s 120-100 win over the Miami Heat said something bigger about this team: the Warriors are no longer living and dying with Curry alone.
That’s the real shift. For years, Golden State’s non-Curry minutes were the part of the night that made you brace for impact.
Now they’re becoming the stretch where the Warriors can actually separate. Against Miami, Curry sat with about seven minutes left and the Warriors were up 17.
Two minutes later, the Heat had trimmed it to 12 and Chase Center had gone quiet, but Steve Kerr still left Curry on the bench. He never had to bring him back.
Instead, Golden State closed with a group that included Brandin Podziemski, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, Charles Bassey, Georges Niang and Brandon Williams, and that unit blew the game open in a decisive three-minute burst after Niang checked in with 4:22 remaining.
That kind of balance is what has changed everything for the Warriors. Nine players in an 11-man rotation scored at least eight points.
Nine. That’s the kind of spread that can turn an ugly 0-3 start into a six-game run and make a team look less like play-in fodder and more like something sturdier.
It’s early, sure, but this group looks competent. That matters because the Warriors are no longer asking Curry to rescue every possession when he’s on the bench.
Podziemski is part of that stability now. He’s not just running around with energy; he’s controlling tempo, moving the ball and keeping the offense from getting sticky.
Lendeborg has been even more important. The rookie has become a real force for the second unit, giving Golden State creation and shot-making with a level of comfort that looks far beyond his experience. The production isn’t always polished, but even his off nights still help the Warriors.
Will Richard also deserves a mention. He didn’t finish the game, but he moved into the starting lineup Thursday and gave Golden State the kind of two-way discipline and spacing that fit cleanly alongside everyone else.
He doesn’t need the ball to make an impact. He cuts, rotates and knocks down open looks.
Then there’s Charles “Basketball” Bassey, who has become impossible to ignore. He brought the vertical pop, rim protection and nonstop downhill energy the Warriors needed, and he’s now standing out as their top center in recent games.
He’s athletic Kevon Looney. There’s no higher compliment you can receive in this space.
Miami never really found an answer. Once the Heat’s early burst faded and Draymond Green settled into controlling the paint, their offense got bogged down and out of sync. The Warriors, meanwhile, kept rolling because they have so many players who understand exactly what they are supposed to do.
That’s the difference now. Miami can’t seem to find one reliable combination. Golden State has several.
The real test is coming. A matchup against Houston next week will tell a lot about whether this depth holds up against elite competition.
For now, though, the message is clear: Curry is still the engine, but he isn’t dragging the whole thing uphill by himself anymore. And that changes everything.
In Other News...
Stephen Curry Just Reached Another Shooting Mark Few Ever Touch
Stephen Curry added another line to a resume already packed with them at Chase Center, knocking down a three-pointer in his 100th straight game with the Warriors. It came during a first half in which Golden State had help beyond its usual centerpiece, with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and Brandin Podziemski contributing as the Warriors carried a lead into the stretch before halftime.
Orlando, though, did not let the moment turn into a runaway. Franz Wagner and Jamal Cain helped keep the Magic within striking distance and made the game feel competitive well into the second quarter, a reminder that even on a night when Curry reaches a rare shooting milestone, Golden State still has to finish the job against a team willing to hang around. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Mullin Just Raised The Stakes On Yaxel Lendeborgs Hot Start
Yaxel Lendeborgs first nine games have given the Warriors something real to talk about early in the 2026-27 season. The rookie has been producing across the board, averaging 21 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists while looking like a player who is already comfortable carrying a heavy load. For a team that is always watching for the next homegrown piece, that kind of start naturally gets attention.
Chris Mullin added even more weight to it this week by publicly backing the rookies trajectory. The Hall of Famer said Lendeborg could be in the Rookie of the Year conversation and even projected a ceiling that includes future All-Star and All-NBA status, which is a lot to put on a player this early. It is only one voice, and only a start, but it shows how quickly Lendeborgs opening stretch has turned into one of the more interesting developments around the Warriors. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompson Just Reopened A Warriors Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Klay Thompsons first game against the Warriors as a member of the Heat had the kind of emotional backdrop that always seems to follow him around the Bay Area. He scored 11 points and added three assists in Miamis loss, but the bigger takeaway came after the final buzzer, when Thompson made it clear he still carries thoughts of a possible reunion with Golden State and appreciates the support he continues to get from fans in the region.
For Warriors fans, that is the part that keeps the conversation alive. Thompson is under contract with Miami now, but he also has a player option for next season, which leaves the door open just enough to keep the speculation going. Even with the move already made, his connection to Golden State has not gone away, and this latest visit only reminded everyone how hard it is to fully close the book on a player who helped define an era. [Read more 🡒]