Stephen Curry isn’t shying away from the expectations this season. In a sit-down with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, the Warriors star said Golden State has a “legitimate shot” at the championship, but admitted their success will come down to one thing: staying healthy.
“We have a legitimate shot,” Curry said. “We can square up against anybody in the West, but everything has to go right health-wise. For any team to win the championship, that’s a prerequisite. We want an opportunity to show that in the playoffs. When we won in 2022, if you told me that this was a team that would win it all I would have believed it but maybe not a 10 out of 10. I think there’s a similarity there. Jimmy adds another dynamic that we didn’t even have back then.”
As a four-time NBA champion, Curry knows more than most about what it takes to win at the highest levels. With career averages of 24.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, Steph has carried the Warriors for 16 years to varying degrees of success. Last season, despite an aging roster and rising competition, the Warriors managed to finish seventh in the West at 48-34.
Going into this season, retirement was looming for Steph but even at 37 years old, he’s not done yet. Even now, the two-time MVP is committed to winning and he believes this team is capable, just like the 2022 team was. That roster, which did not have Kevin Durant, was not expected to make a title run but talent, experience, and chemistry came together at the perfect time. To this day, it’s considered one of the more impressive and unexpected championships in Warriors history.
For Curry, this year’s Warriors group shares a lot of similarities. Just like in 2022, Golden State is being counted out of most title discussions and it’ll be up to them to disprove that underdog classification. Fortunately, Jimmy Butler’s presence has raised the Warriors’ ceiling tenfold and team confidence hasn’t been this high in years.
Butler, a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA player, is widely recognized as an elite two-way star and his skills in the frontcourt will prove especially valuable for a team that’s already loaded with talent. Plus, through stints with the Bulls, Heat, Timberwolves, and 76ers, Butler made a name for himself as an alpha competitor and he’s brought that mentality into the Warriors’ locker room.
So while the Warriors may not be the favorites to come out of the West, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were one of the last teams standing this spring. On paper, they have everything they need to compete for a championship and there’s a growing sense that they’ve built something lasting. For now, until they have a chance to prove it, the Warriors will stay humble and let their game do the talking but don’t think for a second that they’re out of the title race.
In the end, Curry knows the window is smaller than ever, but he still believes the Warriors have what it takes to win it all. He’s been doubted before and always found a way to rise when it mattered most, and with Butler in the mix he feels Golden State has another chance to shock the league. If they can stay healthy, there’s every reason to believe this group could be the one to write the next great chapter of Warriors basketball.
