The Golden State Warriors have won four championships during the Stephen Curry saga.
Structuring their offense around Curry’s unparalleled combination of range, precision, and endurance, they’ve become perhaps the most unlikely dynasty in NBA history. Nobody expected the Davidson product to play so well coming out of college. It’s not like they thought he was chopped liver; he was the seventh overall pick for a reason. It’s just that Curry entered the NBA at a time when the most important players were usually wings.
Now, the NBA is referred to as a guard’s league.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, that may not be completely correct though. The last six MVPs have been split between Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (2), Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (3), and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (1). In that time, the Warriors (1), Bucks (1), Nuggets (1), Kawhi Leonard-led Toronto Raptors (1), LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers (1), and Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics (1) have all won a title.
Warriors’ Stephen Curry Only Has One Goal In Mind Before Retirement
As Curry enters his 16th season, championships are “literally the only thing” that he’s “playing for,” he tells SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“[A championship] is literally the only thing I’m playing for at this point”
Steph Curry tells @WorldWideWob & @SarahKustok what still drives him in year 16
Hear the Warriors Season Preview special on the SiriusXM App: https://t.co/4dHfwOTVg4 pic.twitter.com/x2StX5hNka
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 22, 2024
If that’s the case, he may have to continue to buck the trend. Or, maybe just maybe, the Warriors need to surf the wave. Rather than relying on Curry to go supernova, Golden State should invest into their frontcourt.
Curry’s longtime sidekick, Klay Thompson, is gone. Draymond Green, though a two-way playmaker, doesn’t present nearly enough challenges for a defense. Perhaps that’s why Golden State made (unsuccessful) moves on Paul George and Lauri Markkanen in the offseason.
However, neither the Los Angeles Clippers nor Utah Jazz were too interested in helping the Warriors get back on their feet. So, Golden State must now turn to 2014 No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins and 2021 No. 7 pick Jonathan Kuminga. Unless they have another trade lined up, that is, which doesn’t seem to be the case.
Maximizing Offensive Potential
Wiggins hasn’t consistently been asked to be more than the third option since they traded for him. Kuminga doesn’t even know whether he’ll start or come off the bench. To that point, the Congolese baller’s potential has been stifled by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. Yet, both players are either in or approaching the prime of their career.
With that being said, Golden State’s offense caters to Curry’s three-point prowess, but they need to diversify their attack. That doesn’t mean that they have to change their overall philosophy. Nonetheless, in an ever-changing league, they have to adapt.
Kerr has struggled to do that thus far, but it’s time.
With two athletic forwards who can score from three levels but are at their best when pressuring the rim in the open court or halfcourt, he should be using their interior gravity as much as Curry’s outside gravity. How he does it so far as the Xs and Os is up to him. However, there should be no debate about whether he should play Curry, Wiggins, and Kuminga off of each other to maximize their offensive potential.
All that matters to Curry at this point is winning a title, not being the team’s highest scorer. If Kerr is unwilling to adjust his strategy, the Warriors need to consider hiring a coaching consultant who does.
