Golden State’s Shift in Strategy: Kerr Leans on Youth to Preserve Warriors' Playoff Core
Not long ago, a lineup featuring Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Al Horford would’ve been a nightmare for the rest of the league-especially come playoff time. Between Curry’s generational shooting, Butler’s postseason grit, Green’s defensive IQ, and Horford’s veteran savvy, this group still carries the DNA of a championship-caliber team. But there’s no denying the calendar’s caught up to them.
All four of those players are 35 or older, and while they can still bring it when it counts, the grind of an 82-game regular season is a different beast entirely. Head coach Steve Kerr seems to be acknowledging that reality more than ever this season, and it’s shaping how the Warriors approach their day-to-day basketball life in 2025-26.
The Regular Season Marathon Requires a New Game Plan
Golden State is sitting at 11-10 through 21 games-a record that doesn’t scream contender, but also doesn’t tell the full story. The Warriors have long been a team built for the postseason, and that hasn’t changed. What has changed is how they’re managing the regular season to get there in one piece.
Kerr is clearly making a more concerted effort to lighten the load on his veteran stars. Last season, Butler averaged 32.7 minutes per game after joining the team mid-year.
This season, he’s down to 31.7. Curry’s dropped from 32.2 to 31.0.
Draymond Green remains under the 30-minute mark at 29.1, and Al Horford-brought in for leadership and frontcourt stability-is seeing just 21.8 minutes per game after logging 27.7 with Boston a year ago.
These aren’t just cosmetic changes. They’re strategic.
Kerr knows pushing these vets through the regular season like it’s May or June is a recipe for burnout-or worse, injury. And with limited trade assets and a tight cap situation, the Warriors don’t have the luxury of replacing one of these core guys if something goes wrong.
Youth Movement: Opportunity Meets Necessity
That brings us to the most intriguing development in the Bay: the kids are finally getting their shot.
Brandin Podziemski, who showed flashes last year, is up to 28.3 minutes per game from 26.8. Moses Moody, long seen as a player with untapped potential, has jumped from 22.3 to 26.1.
Pat Spencer, a grinder who’s worked his way into the rotation, has doubled his minutes from 6.4 to 12.8. And Quinten Post, while technically averaging slightly fewer minutes overall, is starting to see more consistent floor time-logging at least 17 minutes in each of his last five games, including three with 22 or more.
This isn’t just about giving the young guys run-it’s about survival. The Warriors need them to contribute now, not just develop for the future. And Kerr, to his credit, is trusting them in meaningful spots.
Perhaps the best example of this shift is rookie Will Richard. He’s averaging 18.4 minutes a night and already carving out a role with his two-way play.
He’s giving the Warriors real minutes-knocking down shots, defending multiple positions, and easing the burden on the older core. For a team that’s walking a tightrope between contending and rebuilding, that kind of contribution is gold.
Long-Term Vision, Short-Term Sacrifices
There’s no sugarcoating it: this isn’t the ideal version of the 2025-26 Warriors. In a perfect world, the stars would still be in their primes, the team would be cruising to 50-plus wins, and the young talent would be seasoning on the bench. But that’s not where things stand.
Instead, Kerr is threading a delicate needle-preserving the health of his veterans while accelerating the development of his younger players. It’s a balancing act that could pay off in a big way if the Warriors can stay afloat in the standings and hit the postseason with a fresh, healthy core and a deeper bench than they’ve had in years.
The truth is, Golden State doesn’t need home-court advantage to be dangerous in the playoffs. They’ve got the experience, the championship pedigree, and the kind of players who know how to win when it matters most. But to get there, they’ll need the young legs to carry more weight in the regular season.
It’s not the flashiest strategy. It’s not the easy road. But it might just be the smartest one.