Warriors at a Crossroads: Struggles, Stars, and the Growing Pressure for Change
The Golden State Warriors came into this season with championship aspirations. Built around future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry and the veteran grit of Jimmy Butler, the roster was designed to win now-not just compete, but contend. But as they head into Thursday night’s matchup in Phoenix, the Warriors find themselves sitting at 13-14, eighth in the Western Conference, and searching for answers.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t what anyone in the Bay Area expected.
Despite Curry continuing to do Curry things-averaging nearly 30 points a night-the offense as a whole has sputtered. Golden State ranks just 20th in offensive rating, a stunning drop for a team that once revolutionized the NBA with its pace, spacing, and unselfish ball movement. The numbers tell part of the story, but the eye test confirms it: this Warriors team doesn’t look like itself.
And now, the outside noise is getting louder.
Former NBA guard Brandon Jennings didn’t hold back in a recent appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast. Jennings, never one to mince words, called for sweeping changes in Golden State, starting with longtime head coach Steve Kerr.
“Steve Kerr, your time is up,” Jennings said bluntly. “We cool on all that stuff we was doing.”
His criticism didn’t stop there. Jennings also suggested the Warriors should consider moving on from Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green-two players expected to be key veteran pillars this season.
“Butler is a second option, that’s not going to work,” he added, pointing to the team’s lack of offensive cohesion. “Jimmy Butler, he can be on the trade block, and Draymond Green.”
It’s the kind of commentary that reflects a broader sentiment among some fans and analysts: that the Warriors are stuck between eras. Still tethered to the greatness of Curry, Green, and Kerr, but with a roster that hasn’t quite figured out how to bridge the gap to the next generation.
Jennings also took aim at Kerr’s handling of the team’s young talent, particularly forward Jonathan Kuminga. The former top-10 pick has struggled to find consistent minutes, and Kerr’s reluctance to fully unleash him has been a flashpoint all season.
“(Kerr’s) schemes, him not wanting to play young players, the things that he’s doing with Kuminga, it messed everything up,” Jennings said.
It’s a fair concern. The Warriors have invested heavily in developing young talent while also trying to chase titles.
It’s a delicate balance-and right now, it’s not working. Kerr, who just led Team USA to Olympic gold last summer, is facing some of the most pointed criticism of his coaching tenure in Golden State.
The idea of firing Kerr or trading away core veterans like Butler and Green might seem drastic, but it underscores the urgency surrounding the franchise. The Warriors have won four NBA titles since 2015, all with Kerr on the bench and Curry and Green anchoring the floor. That kind of success buys time-but not infinite patience.
Jennings summed it up with a cold dose of reality: “You’ve just got to let Steph know, ‘this is what we’re doing.’ Regardless if Steph has a problem with it or not, the fact is that it’s business.”
That’s the harsh truth of the NBA. Loyalty and legacy matter-but so does winning. And right now, the Warriors aren’t doing enough of it.
While a full teardown or coaching change seems unlikely in the immediate future, the franchise is clearly approaching a tipping point. With one of the oldest rosters in the league and a fanbase growing restless, something’s going to have to give. Whether that’s a shift in rotation, a trade, or a deeper philosophical change in how the team approaches development, the message is clear: the status quo isn’t cutting it.
Golden State still has Curry. They still have championship DNA.
But if they want to extend this era-or even salvage this season-they’ll need to find a new gear. Fast.