SAN FRANCISCO – Before stepping down from the postgame podium on Friday night, Warriors center Al Horford exuded a gleeful energy as he began his interview.
“We’re ready to start,” Horford said.
As in, “Ready to start the regular season … and be done with the preseason.”
As a veteran team headlined by players in their mid-to-late 30s, the Warriors saw the exhibition slate as something to be tolerated.
But even though the team dealt with injuries, and generally played its starters sparingly, there was still knowledge to be gleaned.
Here are four takeaways from the Warriors’ preseason.
Steph Curry is still elite
Feel free to put this in the “Yeah, duh” category of takeaways, but a 37-year-old 6-foot-3 guard playing at an all-NBA level as the team’s top scoring option is frankly unprecedented in league history.
Even removing the elite scoring aspect, just being a superstar guard at that height and age is a category shared by a company of two – Steve Nash and John Stockton.
But the greatest shooter of all time appears primed for another season as a Top 10 player in the game even as he approaches 40. In his first action since injuring his hamstring against the Timberwolves in last season’s playoffs, Curry shot 5 of 7 in the preseason opener.
Given extended minutes for the first time in Portland, Curry drew 13 free throws and scored 28 points while barely dribbling the ball. In the final preseason game, Curry put up 20 points in 30 minutes.
With Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Horford all capable of handling the ball, Curry’s off-ball game should remain lethal in 2025-26.
Injuries could – or will – be an issue
In a truly shocking revelation, a team leaning on players born in the 1980s dealt with injury issues this preseason. Curry was “banged up” after two games at Chase Center and Butler missed the final three games of the preseason.
This should surprise absolutely no one, as expecting NBA players who are closer to 40 than 30 to stay perfectly healthy during an NBA season is foolish.
Kerr has said as much, noting that he expects the veterans to play around 60 to 70 of the 82 games.
“It’s obviously been tough, a couple of injuries with Moses (Moody) and Jimmy missing some time, but as long as we come, hopefully, on Tuesday with as many guys ready to go as possible, and hopefully get off to a good start, I feel good, and I think we’re excited,” Curry said.
But it was not just the elder statesmen who were dealing with maladies during the exhibition slate.Moody will likely miss the start of the regular season with a calf strain.
And fellow Gen Z’ers Podziemski and Kuminga both dealt with injuries last season, missing 18 and 35 games, respectively.
Kuminga can pass
Consider this one of the most surprising developments of the entire NBA preseason.
After an offseason dominated by discussions – created in some part by agent Aaron Turner – about how Kuminga desired a high-profile scoring role, the newly resigned former lottery pick has displayed … playmaking vision?
Yes, the player who is known for high-flying drives to the rim and shooting into traffic has been a prolific assist-man this preseason.
“I’m saying that I’ve improved in everything,” Kuminga said. “It’s not perfect, it’s not great, but it’s something I can use to help the team.”
Kuminga has played the role Kerr has envisioned for him for the past four years. Running the floor. Defending with aplomb. Rebounding (for the most part). And most importantly, hitting the open man.
He had 16 assists in four games, sitting out the Clippers matchup with a minor ankle injury.
Against the Lakers, Kuminga made a couple of heady hit-ahead passes in transition. During a truncated stint in Portland, he played the Green role and dished from the post.
If this buy-in to spraying the ball around remains, Kuminga instantly jumps into another, higher tier of player.
Horford and Post bring Warriors into the 2020s
Known as the team that brought modern spacing and 3-point bombing into the NBA, the Warriors have paradoxically been one of the last franchises to embrace distance shooting from the center position.
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Quinten Post’s nine 3-point attempts per 36 minutes as a rookie was a pleasant surprise, but the Warriors still trotted out lineups where iffy shooter Green and strict rim-runner Kevon Looney manned the middle.
That will change this season. In limited preseason minutes, Horford showcased what a more offensively-gifted five can do for the Warriors offense. Though hardly a high-flier, Horford remains mobile in limited minutes.
He had eight assists and four made 3-pointers in four games, but the box score did not show how the offense hummed along when Horford was the one making decisions in the high post, or when he was drawing shot-blockers out of the lane with his shooting ability.
While the statistics are skewed by garbage time, the Warriors averaged 45.4 3-point attempts in five preseason games. That would be three more than what the Warriors shot last season, when they were second in the league in long range shots per game.