Stephen Curry has spent 17 seasons as the face of the Warriors, and the latest offseason twist only sharpened the pressure around Golden State’s next move. The team had been viewed as one of the favorites to land LeBron James in free agency, but James chose the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026-27 season instead.
That decision leaves Curry, Draymond Green, and the Warriors staring at a reality that has been creeping up on them for a while. Golden State’s core has already delivered four championships over the past 11 years, built around Curry, Green, and Steve Kerr, with Klay Thompson once part of that group before leaving for the Dallas Mavericks. Thompson could still return if he gets waived by Dallas, but even that possibility doesn’t change the bigger picture: this era is getting older, and the window is not as wide as it used to be.
Curry has been trying to keep the team in the championship conversation, but the combination of age and roster uncertainty is making that harder by the season. The Warriors believed they had a shot at convincing James to join them, yet Philadelphia kept strengthening its case, especially after the Jaylen Brown trade.
Curry addressed the situation with Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, saying, "Knowing that when Jimmy got hurt and Moses got hurt, the whole calculus of everything changes. How do you get through their absence and still stay at a certain level?
And then how that goes into this year. It’s the same deal.
So, I’m a realist on that... I’m hopeful for all the creative ideas of getting the best team possible," Curry said to The Athletic's Marcus Thompson II.
For Curry, loyalty has already brought four titles. But with him and Green still carrying the load, the Warriors are running out of time to chase a fifth.
In Other News...
76ers Just Flipped Another Offseason Assumption With Surprise Roster Call
Philadelphias offseason roster math has taken another turn, and this one points toward Jabari Walker sticking around longer than many around the league expected. The 76ers had a straightforward way to create room, but instead of treating Walkers non-fully guaranteed deal like the obvious odd man out, the front office appears to view him as a useful piece in the frontcourt mix.
Walkers contract still gives the team flexibility, with the guarantee date not arriving until January 10, but the decision-making here says plenty about how Philadelphia wants to shape the back end of the roster. After moving Johni Broome to clear space for additions such as LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Sixers seem more interested in keeping Walker in the fold as a depth option than reopening that spot again. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Facing An Awkward Roster Move They May Have To Overpay For
The Sixers are running into the kind of roster squeeze that tends to turn a simple summer plan into a messy transaction. Philadelphia reportedly wants to keep Jabari Walker for the 2026-2027 season, and the anticipated addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after his buyout from the Memphis Grizzlies means the front office has to make room somewhere on the roster.
Johni Broome has become the obvious name to move, but finding a taker may not be straightforward. Teams interested in absorbing his salary could ask for extra assets in return, which would force Philadelphia to decide how much it is willing to pay just to create the flexibility it needs. [Read more 🡒]
Bam Adebayo Reveals His Message After LeBron Passed On The Heat
Bam Adebayo had a measured reaction after LeBron James chose a different path this offseason, stressing support for James while keeping the focus on what comes next for Miami and the Eastern Conference. Adebayo also made clear he is looking forward to the season ahead, including the possibility of sharing a locker room with Giannis Antetokounmpo, a scenario he has already talked through with him before.
For the Heat, the bigger takeaway is less about disappointment and more about how quickly the landscape can shift around them. Adebayo said he is not discouraged by the decision and sees a fresh turnaround coming in the East, which leaves Miami in the familiar spot of having to answer the leagues biggest moves with its own. [Read more 🡒]