The Warriors open their 2026-2027 preseason this afternoon against the Clippers, and they’ll do it in Hawaii. Tipoff is set for Sunday, October 4th 2026, at 4pm PDT, with Golden State and Los Angeles both listed at 0-0.
The first real lineup clue of the fall came late yesterday, when Kerr confirmed that Brandin Podziemski and rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg will round out the starting five for this one. That matches the group that was used in Friday’s inter-squad scrimmage and, on paper, gives the Warriors a sensible early look while they wait for other pieces to sort themselves out. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are together, as Kerr has made clear he wants Green paired with Curry’s playing time as much as possible, and Al Horford remains the incumbent starting center.
That still leaves some room for questions, even if this is only preseason. Who handles the toughest perimeter assignment?
Podziemski has earned a reputation for drawing charges, but neither he nor Curry jumps out as a natural point-of-attack stopper. And if Golden State is leaning into a five-out approach, the shooting should be there, but the group could be exposed by quicker guards and cutters once the switching starts to get stretched.
None of that is likely to keep the Warriors up at night right now, and Kerr and the staff know far more about the defensive side of this than anyone watching from the outside. For today, the bigger point is simply getting the season moving with Curry and company back on the floor.
Podz will be the teams leading scorer. Yaxel will play the most minutes.
In Other News...
Warriors Are Betting On A Draymond Change To Fix A Real Problem
Steve Kerr is tweaking the Warriors offense this season with an eye on a problem that has lingered too long: too many giveaways. The plan includes a five-out look while keeping some of the familiar actions that have defined Golden State for years, and Kerr said the teams turnover issues will be a priority as it tries to clean up possession after possession.
A big part of that adjustment involves Draymond Green, who is being asked to take on a different role in the flow of the offense. The early test comes in a preseason game against the Clippers, where Golden State should offer the first real glimpse of how those changes fit together and whether the new approach can help the Warriors look sharper and more secure with the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Are Testing A Surprise Small Ball Lineup Kerr May Actually Use
The Warriors have been tinkering with their frontcourt at training camp as they sort through options for the season ahead, and the search has reached into some less obvious places. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is getting a look as a small-ball center, and veteran forward Georges Niang has also been part of the conversation, giving Golden State another possible way to play without relying on a traditional big.
Steve Kerr has made it clear the team is trying to find the right combinations rather than force a single solution, especially with defensive effectiveness at the center of the plan. With Draymond Green, Al Horford, Charles Bassey and Graham Ike in the mix, and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined by health concerns, the Warriors have enough moving pieces to keep experimenting - and enough uncertainty that the final frontcourt picture may not come into focus for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Center Plan Is Already Taking Shape For A Complicated Reason
Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined indefinitely because of a health issue has already reshaped how the Warriors are thinking about their frontcourt, and it helps explain why the team moved quickly to bring back Al Horford on a two-year contract. At 40, Horford is not being asked to carry a heavy load, but he could open the season as Golden States center and give the group a steady, familiar option while the staff sorts through the early rotation.
That plan fits into a broader preseason setup Steve Kerr is already mapping out, with Brandon Williams and Georges Niang also in line for defined roles as the Warriors figure out how best to spread minutes around. Horford is expected to contribute in limited bursts, and Kerr has been careful about managing the workload for his veterans as the preseason opener approaches, leaving the shape of the rotation clear even if the long-term answer at center is still taking form. [Read more 🡒]