The Golden State Warriors are still in the mix for contention. Franchise superstar Stephen Curry wakes up every day at dawn to practice shooting in the dark, with friends and teammates watching him chase perfection like a man on the run from time. Now at 37 years old, the legendary point guard is in the final years of his illustrious career, searching for a perfect farewell, hoping for one last storybook ending in June.

However, this pursuit is vastly different from his previous four championship runs. Curry remains brilliant; his off-ball movement, gravity on the court, and exceptional shooting skills are still intact, but his supporting cast has changed dramatically. Long-time backcourt partner Klay Thompson departed in the summer of 2024, and while Draymond Green is still a defensive powerhouse, he has lost some consistency due to age. For the first time in a decade, the Warriors’ title aspirations do not rely solely on the Splash Brothers or Curry’s individual talent, but instead on the new pieces the team has brought in over the years.

This is where three names come into play: Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski, and Jonathan Kuminga. Together, they represent three different timelines: the fire of a seasoned veteran, the steady presence of a young guard, and the raw potential of an emerging star waiting to be unleashed. For Curry, they are more than just teammates; they symbolize the difference between a final triumphant dance and a prolonged farewell.

Last season, Butler’s midseason arrival changed everything. Golden State traded 2022 championship vet Andrew Wiggins for him, and the fit of two veteran leaders and relentless competitors seemed natural. The record confirmed it: in the games where Butler and Curry shared the floor, the Dubs went 27-8. Butler’s toughness and isolation scoring gave Golden State a dominant inside-the-arc presence they haven’t had in Curry’s championship years, as well as a voice and mind that the team has missed since prime Draymond.

This season, Butler starts with an entire summer spent with the Warriors and a clean slate from the trade talks in Miami. He’s their new enforcer and equalizer, someone who can take a tough opposing matchup, create shots when the offense stalls, and stare down the most incredible playoff moments without blinking. Talking about Butler’s addition to the team, Golden State assistant coach Bruce Fraser told EssentiallySports, “Jimmy is an elite passer and playmaker. He’s elite at other things. But relative to helping Steph, he’s really good at getting guys shots, especially Steph… The ball is in his hands a lot for a reason. He’s that good. That helps Steph.”

Then, there’s Brandin Podziemski, the most understated but vital player in Curry’s orbit. After two surgeries last season on his core and wrist, he’s healthy and sharp heading into the 2025-26 season. Head coach Steve Kerr sees him as a natural complement to Steph, which showed in his willingness to start the sophomore 33 out of 64 games last year. The lefty shooter is a connective piece on the offense, someone who can space the floor, rebound when needed, and pass with purpose.

Kerr previously said, “Brandin’s going to play a ton, and he’s a hugely important player for us, but the starting lineup, frankly, is a little trick for us, just given the pieces,” showing a willingness to let the youngster take the reins. Podz has displayed an elite off-ball playstyle alongside Butler, with an ability to run the point, which he has exhibited extensively during preseason. Brandin doesn’t need the volume, and his averages don’t show the full impact. Kerr has praised his ability to “organize” the offense and “run the show” and has let Podziemski lead the second unit as the lead guard during practices and scrimmages.

The wild card for the team is still Jonathan Kuminga. The former #7 overall pick has spent his time with the Warriors caught between promise and patience, showing flashes in periods of inconsistency. Last year, his efficiency plummeted due to an ankle injury; his field goal percentage dropped from 52.9% to 45.4% despite scoring 15.3 points in just under 25 minutes a night. Even with him taking a step back, the Warriors finished the year third in bench scoring at 43.6, just behind the Grizzlies and Spurs. If Kuminga can bump his production up to the 17-18 points per game range, which is realistic considering his strengths and usage, he can become either the bona fide third option or Golden State’s most valuable trade chip.

Last year, Payton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics won Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 14.3 points in just 28.4 minutes. Kuminga has a much higher ceiling, with an elite finishing ability, explosive first step, and speed in transition that can overwhelm defenders. Kuminga has also had an entire offseason to raise himself back to full strength and has all the tools needed to be a defensive pest. If he can increase his standard to a dependable level, he could become a consistent threat against smaller lineups and collapse defenses before kicking out to shooters. Curry even previously expressed confidence in Kuminga during the extended negotiations on his contract this summer, saying, “He has such a high ceiling, and his timing and his journey has just been a little different… I think he’s excited about taking that next step. And, for him, no matter what lineup he’s out there with, he’s gotta be aggressive, play the way he knows how to play, and continue to get better, and it should work out for him.”

Golden State’s future doesn’t hinge on whether Curry can still torch teams (he can, and he will). Instead, it depends on how Butler’s fire, Podziemski’s calm, and Kuminga’s chaos coexist in harmony, and how old and new can work together to add to something that still feels like Warriors basketball. Curry talked about relying on his teammates, telling EssentiallySports, “We have some youth that can carry us. Hopefully, we can have a good complement of age and wisdom and youth and energy… We all understand the work that goes in behind the scenes with recovery and all that type of stuff.”

Curry knows that this season could be his last shot. The roster is filled with vets, and the Western Conference is the toughest it’s been in years. But basketball dynasties rarely end with a single fall. They only falter when their belief does. Fraser told us, “I think he’ll play until he doesn’t enjoy it anymore and isn’t great. He’s going to play until he’s no longer great.” This group is still evolving, and it might just be enough to give the greatest shooter ever one last chance to chase history.

Stephen Curry’s Commitment to Health and Longevity

Even at his age, Curry shows up. Despite being the veteran leader, Curry joined an optional practice meant for young players at USC’s Galen Center, dedicating over an hour to treatment, stretching, and strengthening before even stepping on the court. For Steph, maintaining his peak condition is a requirement to keep his performance maximized, keep injury risks to a minimum, and keep his production at an elite level. He was hampered by a thumb injury during the Rockets series and was forced to sit out the Timberwolves series with a hamstring strain.

Bruce Fraser told us how he works with Warriors staff to keep him ready: “Our performance staff with the Warriors is really good with [director of sports medicine and performance] Rick Celebrini and his group. What he’s doing off the court is equally as important with what he’s doing on the court. He works a lot with Kyle Barbour, our strength coach. Steph does a lot with him and does a lot with Rick.”

Fraser also talked about Golden State’s first-round series against the Houston Rockets, saying, “I don’t want to say, because I’m not an expert, on whether that was related to his [hamstring] injury. But his body was definitely worn down… Every team keys on him. Houston wasn’t any different, but they had a lot of good defenders that keyed on him. They were switching him up a little bit.”

Curry himself stressed the importance of health in a championship run, something especially important with the advanced age of the Warriors’ roster. He told us, “If you want to win a championship, health is a big part of it. Every team that gets to the finish line has health on its side. So you cross your fingers and hope you can get it done.” He highlighted how there are several uncontrollable factors in the NBA season, stating the importance of sleep, recovery, and mental health. Now, his balance gives the Warriors confidence that their superstar can perform at an All-NBA level and lead their core to their last hurrah.