"The Golden State Warriors are old. They have gray in their beards and remember dial-up internet - that kind of old. Of course, that's not universal on the Warriors' roster, but the four men whose knees, hips, and backs the entire season rests upon have been through the ringer more than a few times. And it leaves the Warriors in a fascinating spot, trying to squeeze one last drop of rare-vintage wine out of a barrel that's getting awfully dusty."
"Steph Curry is in his age-38 season. Jimmy Butler just turned 36. Draymond Green will do the same in March. Newcomer Al Horford - the Warriors' presumed starting and closing center - is 39. The Warriors enter the season as the second-oldest team in the NBA, trailing only the Clippers. The Dubs' best lineup - Curry, Butler, Green, Horford, and Buddy Hield (age-33 season) - has an average age of 36. Is this a basketball arena or a museum?"
"Combined, the new Core Four have played nearly 5,000 regular-season and playoff NBA games. And there will be days this season (and, the Warriors hope, postseason) when that experience wins games. Scoring in the league might be higher than it has been since the run-and-gun 1960s, but this is still a thinking man's game. But this is also a young man's game. Those brains are only useful if the bodies they live in can get on the court."
The Warriors enter 2025-26 with a restocked roster and clear title aspirations, but age defines the team's identity. Steph Curry (38), Jimmy Butler (36), Draymond Green (turning 36), Al Horford (39), and Buddy Hield (33) form a best lineup averaging 36 years old. The combined new core has played nearly 5,000 regular-season and playoff games. Experience should yield advantages in crucial moments, yet physical wear raises doubts about sustaining performance across an 82-game schedule. A brutal travel slate, constant opponent focus as a marquee matchup, and chronic wear on knees, hips, and backs intensify durability concerns.
Read at The Mercury News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]