Golden State Warriors: Five things you need to know

• Innovative offense led by superstar Stephen Curry
• Multiple championships in the 2010s and 2020s
• Featured the iconic "Splash Brothers" backcourt of Curry and Klay Thompson

The Golden State Warriors are one of the most dominant NBA franchises in the league’s history, winning seven championships across eight decades. Their dominance in the 2010s culminated in the side winning three championships and recording the greatest ever regular season record of 73-9.

The Warriors have been home to some of the most influential players in the NBA’s history with Steph Curry revolutionising the three-point shot and Wilt Chamberlain’s dominance sparking various rule changes in the NBA.

2024-25 NBA Season Summary

• Record: 48-34
• Finish: 7th Seed (Lost in Western Conference Semi-finals)
• All-Star Selections: Steph Curry

The Warriors 2024-25 season ended prematurely in the Western Conference Semifinals going down to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. The Warriors pulled off a blockbuster trade that saw the team acquire Jimmy Butler in midseason. In what was an underwhelming beginning to the season for the Warriors, Butler's presence elevated the team into the seventh seed in the West with the side posting a 23-7 when Jimmy was on the floor.  

Re-signing

• N/A

Ins

• N/A

Outs: Kevon Looney departs in free agency to Pelicans

The Warriors have had a lacklustre offseason, with no additions or re-signings taking place. The loss of three-time champion Kevon Looney to the Pelicans this offseason cuts a deep hole in the Warriors depth and experience at the centre position. Without an out and out centre, the Warriors may be forced to field a small ball lineup which was an unsuccessful experiment run in the back end of last season.

With a strong core of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors will be looking to their emerging young talents like Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski to take a huge leap in the upcoming season and advance the Warriors hopes in the West. Since moving on franchise legend Klay Thompson, the franchise has been in a transitional period, searching for someone to take the reins and initiate a new era of Warriors basketball.

Under the guidance of Steve Kerr for over a decade, the Warriors have preserved a big part of their championship DNA from their 2022 triumph. The Warriors will need to be more active this offseason to give the team any chance of taking a leap next season and reasserting their dominance in the West. Specifically, the Warriors will be on the look for a starting centre and bench pieces to round out the roster.

2025-26 Predicted Lineup

1. Point Guard: Steph Curry
2. Shooting Guard: Brandin Podziemski
3. Small Forward: Buddy Hield
4. Power Forward: Jimmy Butler III
5. Centre: Draymond Green

The Warriors drafted Alex Toohey in the 2025 NBA Draft and have Taran Armstrong on a two-way contract. Both played in the 2025 Summer League.

Australians who have played for the Golden State Warriors

Andrew Bogut: Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Bogut was traded to the Warriors in March 2012. He played a pivotal role as the team's starting centre, contributing significantly to their 2015 NBA Championship victory. Known for his defensive prowess and playmaking abilities, Bogut was instrumental in establishing the Warriors' defensive identity during his tenure. He had two stints with the team, from 2012 to 2016 and briefly in 2019.

History of the Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors were established in 1946 as a Philadelphia based Basketball Association of America (BAA) franchise. They spent 16 years in Philadelphia where they made the transition from the BAA to the NBA. The Warriors had an illustrious resume despite their adolescent existence already winning one championship in each association (BAA and NBA) inside of its first 10 years.

One of the franchise's proudest moments was signing draft pick Wilt Chamberlain in 1959. As one of sport’s most dominant figures, Wilt captivated the NBA with his dominance, writing his name into history books when he scored 100 points against the New York Knicks in 1962. Despite his jaw dropping performances, Wilt never achieved NBA glory with the franchise and was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1964-65 season.

The franchise later moved from the East coast for the West coast, relocating to San Francisco and rebranding as the Golden State Warriors. The side triumphed in the biggest upset in finals history, sweeping the dominant Washington Bullets in 1975 with Rick Barry winning Finals MVP. After their 1975 win, the franchise would go on 40-year championship drought enduring losses to crucial superstars and experiencing huge turnovers across the franchise.

The Warriors' greatest era has undoubtedly been from the 2010s into the early 2020s. After decades of mediocrity, the franchise became the class of the NBA behind the homegrown core of Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green. From 2014-15 to 2018-19, Golden State made five straight NBA Finals appearances, winning three championships.

The 2015-16 Warriors set an NBA record with 73 regular season wins. While they fell short in the Finals that year, they rebounded to win back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 after adding superstar Kevin Durant. The Warriors returned to championship glory in 2022, cementing their status as an enduring NBA dynasty.

Now the Warriors find themselves in a transitional period, with most of the 2022 squad departing the franchise. Despite maintaining the likes of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr, the side have hit a bit of a decline, missing the playoffs once in their past three seasons.

Identity

The Warriors have become synonymous with a free-flowing, three-point heavy offensive system that revolutionised the modern NBA. Under head coach Steve Kerr, the team emphasises ball and player movement, utilising the otherworldly shooting abilities of Stephen Curry and previously Klay Thompson to stretch defences to their breaking point. The Warriors play an unselfish brand of basketball, always looking for the extra pass to find the open man.

Golden State's team culture is built on joy and togetherness. Players genuinely enjoy playing with one another and buying into the team-first mentality. There's an emphasis on having fun and expressing oneself on the court while still maintaining discipline within the system.

Five Fast Facts

1. Stephen Curry holds the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a season with 402 in 2015-16.
2. The Warriors won an NBA-record 73 games in the 2015-16 regular season.
3. Golden State made five straight NBA Finals appearances from 2015-2019, winning three titles.
4. Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single game for the Warriors in 1962, an NBA record.
5. The franchise relocated from Philadelphia to San Francisco in 1962 and became the "Golden State" Warriors in 1971.

Club Timeline

• 1946: Franchise founded as Philadelphia Warriors
• 1962: Team relocates to San Francisco
• 1971: Renamed "Golden State Warriors"
• 1975: Win NBA championship led by Rick Barry
• 2009: Draft Stephen Curry 7th overall
• 2015: Win first NBA title in 40 years
• 2016: Set NBA record with 73 regular season wins
• 2017: Win NBA championship after adding Kevin Durant
• 2018: Repeat as NBA champions
• 2019: Move to new Chase Center arena in San Francisco
• 2022: Win fourth NBA title in eight seasons

With their dominance in the NBA starting from the 2010s and the beginning of the 2020s, it's impossible to rule out the Golden State Warriors.

With serial winners like Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr, Golden State knows what it takes to make noise coming out of the Western Conference. Their below par offseason and lack of an established big man may result in the team achieving a similar second round exit to last year's.