The Golden State Warriors are running it back — again — but this time with a new mix of championship DNA and locker room tension. As we look at the Golden State Warriors 2025-26 roster preview, this offseason, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Gui Santos, Quinten Post, Gary Payton II, Pat Spencer (two-way), and Jonathan Kuminga are staying.
De’Anthony Melton ( Melton is likely to miss the beginning of the season rehabbing the ACL injury he suffered last year)
Out the door:
- Kevon Looney (signed with New Orleans)
- Kevin Knox II and Braxton Key (unsigned free agents).
New arrivals:
- Al Horford (free agent)
- Seth Curry (free agent)
- Will Richard and Alex Toohey (via draft).
And yes, Seth Curry will likely stay — but someone will have to be waived to make room during the Golden State Warriors roster adjustments.
Projected Starting Lineup
Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Al Horford
Bench Depth
Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Gui Santos, Gary Payton II, Quinten Post, Will Richard, Seth Curry, Pat Spencer, Jonathan Kuminga
The Season That Was: From 12–3 Dream Start to Play-In Grit
Golden State came out blazing — 12–3, fast pace, high volume threes, and flashes of vintage Warriors ball.
But November doesn’t hand out rings. Losses piled up, and by February 6, the Dubs were a game under .500.
Then came Jimmy Butler.
He wasn’t the perfect fit, but he was the best star the Warriors could get without giving up Kuminga. Butler brought leadership, grit, and midseason momentum. With him, the Warriors went 24–8 in the second half and clawed their way into playoff position, a highlight of this Golden State Warriors 2025-26 roster preview.
They lost a heartbreaker to the Clippers in the regular-season finale — an overtime duel that could’ve sealed a top-six seed. But in the Play-In, they handled Memphis with ease, then took down a young Houston squad 4–3, stealing Game 7 on the road as Steph and Buddy combined for 13 threes.
In the second round, the Dubs met Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. They stole Game 1 — but when Steph went down injured, the run ended fast. Minnesota closed it out in four straight.
The Kuminga Dilemma
No one’s story defines this Warriors season more than Jonathan Kuminga.
When Butler arrived, Kuminga was injured — and watched as Steve Kerr gave Butler total freedom, the kind he never got.
When Kuminga returned, the tension was obvious. Kerr benched him in key games, even during the Houston series.
This summer, things boiled over. Kuminga rejected a 5-year, $170 million deal last offseason. Now, he’s settling for 2 years, $48 million with a team option — meaning no trade veto and a short leash.
Talks of sign-and-trade swirled but never materialized. The Warriors front office — led by Joe Lacob — still sees Kuminga as a major asset, but the coaching staff? Not so much.
If he doesn’t start strong, expect a January trade once his contract allows it.
New Faces, New Dynamics
- Al Horford brings spacing and IQ, giving the Dubs their first true stretch-five in years.
- Seth Curry finally joins Steph in the Bay — a story 12 years in the making.
- De’Anthony Melton and Moses Moody will share the defensive guard duties.
- Buddy Hield becomes the ultimate weapon off the bench, ensuring there’s always a flamethrower on the floor. This detail certainly spices up the Golden State Warriors 2025-26 roster preview.
Meanwhile, Nick Kerr (Steve’s son) moves up to assistant coach — a fun subplot for Warriors fans who love those Bay Area storylines.
The Reality Check
39, 37, 36, 35, 33.
Those aren’t jersey numbers — they’re ages.
That’s the core of this team: Steph, Butler, Draymond, Horford, and Hield.
They’re all battle-tested. They’re all smart. But 82 games is brutal, and the playoffs are even more intense. Health will decide everything.
Steph Curry can still be legendary — but if he goes down again, this team simply doesn’t have the horsepower to run with OKC, Minnesota, or Houston’s new Durant-led squad.
Season Forecast
- Projected Record: 46–36
- Playoff Prediction: First or Second Round exit
- X-Factor: Kuminga’s mindset and trade value
- Wild Card: How long can the aging core stay healthy?
The Warriors are still dangerous, still relevant, and still Steph’s team — but the window is creaking.
In the Bay, during the Golden State Warriors 2025-26 roster preview, we don’t talk rebuilds. We talk one more run.
