Several NBA teams are expected to make significant leaps next year — whether that be from the lottery to the playoffs or from the playoffs to a championship.
That is particularly true for the Warriors, who saw their offseason arrive early after a second-round playoff exit.
The Warriors have never shied away from believing in their ability to win a championship — a belief that will now be particularly important as their core players enter the final stage of their careers.
A sprint to the finish line last season forced Golden State into must-win mode for every game once Jimmy Butler III arrived. How taxing the end of last year was has created a deeper sense of urgency to come out of the gates hot and avoid a dog-fight for a playoff spot.
Despite this, ESPN projects a seventh-seed landing for the Warriors, which would drag them back into the play-in tournament. No matter what analytics say, confidence hasn’t wavered within the group, especially amongst their All-Stars.
Bold Predictions
In a recent video of Butler working out with Draymond Green, Green brazenly proclaimed the Warriors as 2026 champions. “(I’m) right where I need to be, baby. And we gettin that b***h this year.”
https://twitter.com/TheWarriorsTalk/status/1962214392281596341
The NBA’s preseason has yet to even start. The Warriors’ front office still has many moves to make. Many questions still linger heading into training camp.
Draymond blurted out a presumptuous take not only due to the age of Golden State’s core, but also the uncertainty surrounding their roster.
Green Going Rogue
This isn’t the first instance in which Green has predicted a championship. He went on live television during TNT’s broadcast of the 2025 All-Star Game and echoed the same sentiment.
“I think we’re going to win the championship,” Green said, before changing his word choice. “I’m sorry, I said I think we’re going to win a championship, but I lied. We are going to win the championship.”
The Warriors didn’t fulfill Draymond’s prophecy. Regardless of how last season ended, though, Green’s belief in his group to conquer it all remains steadfast.
During an offseason where the Warriors were criticized for not upgrading their roster, his declaration adds fuel to the media’s fire. It heaps extra pressure on him, Butler, and most of all, Stephen Curry.
The West will be loaded once again this year, and the Warriors face another uphill battle to earn a guaranteed playoff seed.
The NBA is unpredictable; many things have to go right for a team to come out on top. Green’s words could come back to haunt him if they face another early postseason exit, or worse, miss it altogether.
A small window is open to maximize their title run. Butler and Curry don’t need extra motivation. But Green’s take further cements expectations at a point when the odds are stacked against them.
Golden Standard
Draymond may have piled onto the pressure for his team, but he didn’t set the bar by saying it. He just reminded the world of what to goal has always been: an NBA title.
It was bold. It was risky. But it was Draymond.
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