The underdog story. A dark horse emerging out of nowhere, beating the odds. The old “Tortoise and the Hare” tale, with the slow and steady tortoise swooping in to win the race.
This season, the Warriors find themselves in a marathon, not a sprint. A slow 82-game trek.
No one is picking the Warriors to win a title this season; it’s not even part of the conversation.
Nobody took them seriously in 2021-22, when they shocked NBA pundits by winning the fourth championship in the Stephen Curry era. But this season is different.
Dub Nation has a restored sense of promise after drafting 11th overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg, but one player cannot cover a team’s deficits.
Kristaps Porzingis is out indefinitely with an undisclosed health issue that sidelined him before training camp. Golden State’s second-best player will likely miss at least the first two months of the season. The age of their core remains the biggest long-term concern.
As much of an uphill battle as the team has ahead of the regular-season opener, the Warriors are embracing their status as underdogs.
Golden State Is Embracing the Underdog Role
Steve Kerr knew it even before the start of preseason. He and his coaching staff had talked about the shift in team expectations heading into his 13th season as head coach. For years they were the big bad wolf of the NBA, with teams building rosters specifically to beat them. They were an indestructible powerhouse. A force that they are no longer.
They have found renewed purpose in taking on a different challenge—becoming the hunters instead of the hunted. ESPN has the Warriors sitting at 20th in their Basketball Power Index rankings. Making the postseason would be considered a stretch to some.
Rather than let outside opinions breed doubt in the locker room, they are taking on the challenge.
“I don’t mind the fact that everyone’s picking us to miss the playoffs, you know? It’s not a bad spot to be in as a team, as a coach,” Kerr said matter-of-factly in his media day interview. “For me, what it means is we get to focus on the process. We just get to lock in on what we’re trying to accomplish.”
With little expectations on them, they can play more freely in some ways.
So what are realistic goals for this team?
Making the Play-In Tournament is a reasonable benchmark. The Dubs could fall to the 10th seed and have a chance at the postseason. The Warriors don’t expect reinforcements until the second half, meaning the team will have to survive being undermanned.
Surviving the early months will give them a shot to sneak up on opponents in winter and spring. If the Warriors arrive healthy come April, they believe they are a tough out for any team.
Even Curry Thinks the Bar Has Been Set Too Low
The Warriors flying under the radar is not shocking. A roster composed of four players 35 or older with their recent injury history isn’t ideal for a title pursuit. But even Curry thinks the bar has been set far too low for them.
“That’s how bad it’s been—to make the playoffs?” Curry asked after a reporter informed him of the consensus that making the playoffs is their ceiling. “It went from championship to… That’s what I think about that,” he said, raising his hands incredulously and walking off the podium.
Perhaps Curry’s belief remains in the fact that he knows what he is still capable of at 38 years old. He still strikes fear into opponents like no other. It also helps that the superstar has strong faith that Lendeborg will be a key contributor to the team. Lendeborg’s youth, size, and skill give the Warriors a reason not to throw in the towel.
The Warriors are focused on laying a sturdy foundation brick by brick to put themselves in position for success down the line. They can’t control injuries or expedite players’ rehabs, but they are in control of their approach.
“I think the answer people are looking for is, ‘Oh, we come out competing and make the playoffs,’ f— no, that ain’t the answer,” Green said. “The answer is put together a great process so that ultimately down the stretch you can get [Jimmy Butler] back, you can get [Moses Moody] back, and you can have an opportunity to compete. That’s the goal.”
Butler, Green, and Curry All Have Something to Prove
The Warriors have something to prove—collectively and individually.
Not only do Curry and Green want to show they can still lead the team to win, but other players also want to show out.
Jimmy Butler would become the oldest NBA player to ever return from an ACL tear at 37—a feat he is hellbent on accomplishing. He has blocked out the noise from doubters and remains fully confident in his recovery.
“I think it’s gonna be real eye-popping for everybody how I’m still gonna be nice— probably nicer, honestly,” he declared.
Butler is also in the final season of his contract, making him eligible for a new one at the end of the season. He has expressed his desire to remain with the Warriors, but that would require taking a significant pay cut to make the numbers work. Whether with the Warriors or elsewhere, it’s hard to imagine Butler not wanting to squeeze out whatever is left of his longstanding career.
Like Butler, Green is also playing for another contract at the end of this season.
Proving they can still help win only adds fuel to the team’s internal fire.
All Golden State Needs Is a Shot
It’s not about how you start the race; it’s about how you finish.
So long as they work towards improving their approach and building good habits, they believe they have a chance. And right now, that is all they could ask for.
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