With Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green back together, Warriors aim for another title
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Golden State Warriors
Last season: 48-34, lost to Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals.
COACH: Steve Kerr (12th season, 567-308).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 21 at Lakers.
DEPARTURES: C Kevon Looney.
ADDITIONS: C Al Horford, G Seth Curry, G De’Anthony Melton, F Will Richard.
BetMGM championship odds: 28-1.
What to expect
The Warriors are determined to make another championship run with this group still intact: Kerr at the helm coaching Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
They all realize the older players will need days off, so depth will be key to support Curry (37), Horford (39), Butler (36) and Green (35).
Butler brought immediate success to help turn last season around when he was acquired in February from Miami for Andrew Wiggins with the Warriors sitting in 10th place before they finished seventh in the Western Conference. Golden State then went 29-15 beginning when Butler made his debut Feb. 8 at Chicago — including 23-8 in the regular season. When in the lineup the Warriors were 28-14 overall with Butler, who missed one regular-season game and one in the playoffs.
Curry begins his 17th NBA season looking to stay healthy with plenty to motivate him after missing the final four playoff games against the Timberwolves because of a left hamstring strain suffered in Golden State’s Game 1 victory. The Warriors didn’t win again without him.
Of Looney’s departure, Kerr said, “Losing Loon, we lost a piece of our soul” but the experience of big man Horford has taken pressure off Green already.
Strengths and weaknesses
The good: With six-time All-Star Butler back for a full season complementing Curry and Green, the Warriors believe they’re a legitimate championship contender again after last winning it all in 2022. Gary Payton II re-signed and provides a defensive stopper off the bench.
The not-so-good: With Jonathan Kuminga’s contract stalemate stretching three months, the Warriors had to wait to sign their free agents and fully begin building a roster — which felt especially long for some of the newcomers hoping to get settled. Yet with so many returning faces familiar with Kerr’s system, Golden State could turn that into a non-issue through continuity and a culture already deeply in place.
Players to watch
All eyes will be on Kuminga and how he fits into the team and rotation after signing a two-year contract worth up to $46.5 million.
The 23-year-old forward missed much of last season with a right ankle injury. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes over 47 games with 10 starts. He also scored 15.3 points per game over eight playoff games while shooting 48.4% from the floor and making 40% of his 3-point attempts.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA