The Golden State Warriors, just two years removed from their 2022 NBA Championship, no longer seem like serious title contenders. Last season, they didn’t even make the playoffs, and according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe on NBA Today, there’s only one way for them to return to the top: hitting the jackpot, much like the San Antonio Spurs did when they drafted Kawhi Leonard.
“Probably,” Lowe responded when asked if the Warriors’ title window has closed. “It’s going to take a home run, a lightning strike, something like what the Spurs got with drafting Kawhi Leonard toward the end of Tim Duncan’s prime.”
Lowe highlighted the challenge for teams like the Warriors, who have sustained success over many years. As they’ve continually drafted late in the first round, the chances of landing a game-changing star have dwindled, and now their core is aging. “This is what happens to great legends who stay with one team. You win a lot, and while you’re winning a lot, you draft at the bottom of the first round, so you’re probably not getting any stars… and it’s hard to transition from old to great again while the old guys are still in the league, and that’s where the Warriors are.”
While the Warriors remain a competitive team in the Western Conference, Lowe believes their ceiling has dropped. “They’re a good team, this is a good, deep team in the Western Conference. They can win a round. If things go right, they can even win two rounds, but they’re not a contender… They’re not dead yet, but it’s gonna take one home run lightning strike to get back toward the top.”
Could Jonathan Kuminga Be the Warriors’ Kawhi Leonard?
For the Warriors to follow the Spurs’ path, they’d need to find their version of Kawhi Leonard, who helped San Antonio win the 2014 NBA Championship and eventually emerged as the team’s superstar. While such a scenario is rare, Golden State may believe they already have a potential star in Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga’s 2023-24 season was the best of his young career, with averages of 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. At just 21 years old, he was one of the few bright spots during an otherwise disappointing year for the Warriors. If he continues to develop and takes a significant leap, Kuminga could help elevate the team back into championship contention, especially given how well Stephen Curry is still performing.
However, Lowe isn’t convinced that Kuminga, or any of the Warriors’ other young talents like Moses Moody or Brandin Podziemski, will rise to that level. He also pointed out that the team lacks the assets for a blockbuster trade to bring in a proven star. As a result, Lowe believes the Warriors’ championship window may have closed for good.
Stephen Curry Remains Optimistic About Warriors’ Chances
Despite the skepticism from analysts like Lowe, the Warriors’ confidence remains high internally, particularly from Stephen Curry. Curry still sees Golden State as a championship contender heading into the 2024 season.
“I love the fact that people don’t think we can keep the pace with some of the other teams that they’re picking in the West,” Curry told *People*’s Natasha Dye. “And I just love that challenge of stepping into a training camp and being able to create your own success — that gets me going.”
Curry, who averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 2023-24, remains a dominant force on the court. However, whether his supporting cast can provide enough help remains the big question. The Warriors finished last season with a 46-36 record, and without a significant breakthrough from one of their younger players, they seem likely to post a similar record in the upcoming season.
