The Warriors’ early schedule looks brutal on paper, but there’s a stretch in there that could work in their favor: two games against the Lakers in the first six.
That’s the kind of setup Golden State might actually welcome. The Lakers will come into next season looking very different after losing LeBron James and reshaping the roster around Luka Doncic, and that kind of overhaul usually takes time to settle. For the Warriors, those early meetings could be a chance to catch a new-look rival before the pieces fully click.
Los Angeles’ summer changes were significant. The Lakers completed a sign-and-trade for former Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler, then added Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle, Kevon Looney and Ziaire Williams. They also remain a leading suitor for former Warrior forward Jonathan Kuminga.
There’s no question the Lakers are aiming high. They’ll hope the roster reset gets them back in the playoffs, and they’ll be feeling the pressure to keep Doncic happy after such a busy offseason. The idea here is simple: talent may eventually win out, but early in the year, chemistry can be the difference.
That’s where Golden State could have an opening. The Warriors are bringing back the same core, which should give them a leg up in familiarity and rhythm against teams still learning each other. Even with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody set to miss time with injury, the Warriors may be able to compensate with cohesion while the Lakers sort out roles and fit.
It’s also worth remembering how Golden State has started the last two seasons. The Warriors opened 2024-25 at 12-3 before a midseason slide that came before the Butler trade in February. Last season, they were 9-6 to start, and that probably should have been 11-4 if not for losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, both of whom were missing a lot of pieces.
So while the overall schedule is difficult - four of the first five games on the road and nine of the first 15 against playoff teams from last season - those two Lakers matchups may be the part that gives Golden State its best early chance to get rolling. Before Butler returns, those games could say a lot about how well the Warriors handle the opening grind.
In Other News...
Draymond Green Could Become Warriors Trade Focus Faster Than Fans Expected
Draymond Greens name is suddenly in a different kind of conversation around the Warriors. By waiving his implied no-trade clause, he opened the door for Golden State to move him starting Dec. 15, and that alone has added a new layer to how the teams future is being discussed. What once felt like a mostly theoretical roster note is now a real calendar item, which matters for a franchise still trying to balance its present with whatever comes next.
Marcus Thompson of The Athletic raised the possibility on a podcast that the Warriors could explore Greens market next season if the teams results are not where they want them to be. The idea is not necessarily about chasing a blockbuster name back in return, either, but about whether Golden State would look at Green as a path to future flexibility and assets. For a player so central to the Warriors identity, even the suggestion says a lot about how quickly this situation could shift. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompson Just Put The Warriors Dynasty Bond Back In Focus
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For Warriors fans, the remarks are another reminder of how tightly knit that title core was, even as the franchise moves through a new phase. Thompson has also said he wants to return and chase another championship with Golden State, but there is still outside chatter about where he fits if Dallas continues its rebuild, leaving his next step as one of the more closely watched threads around the team. [Read more 🡒]
Brandin Podziemski Just Sent Another Message About His Warriors Future
Brandin Podziemski has plenty of reason to look back fondly on his young Warriors tenure, and his latest reflection only reinforced how naturally he fits into the franchises biggest moments. When asked about his favorite NBA memory, Podziemski pointed to Golden States Game 7 win over Houston in the 2025 playoffs, a night when he chipped in nine points, three rebounds and two assists while handling meaningful defensive work in a pressure-packed setting.
For a player still carving out his long-term place in the rotation, that kind of answer matters. It speaks to the role Podziemski already sees himself playing in Golden State, and it comes at a time when the organization is weighing a possible extension and deciding when to make that move. Whether the Warriors act before the 2026-27 season begins or wait until next summer, Podziemskis comfort level with the spotlight suggests he already understands the standard hes being measured against. [Read more 🡒]