Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry may be 37 and entering his 17th NBA season, but his approach to basketball hasn’t aged a day. When the Golden State Warriors face the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night, Curry isn’t talking about coasting into the season — he’s talking about urgency.
After the Warriors closed their preseason with a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Curry shared how he wants his team to start this campaign. It’s not about panic or pressure. It’s about setting a tone.
“It’s the same mission every year,” Curry said. “Last year we accomplished it, and then the wheels fell off a little bit. You don’t really wanna fast forward too much, or panic if it doesn’t go well to begin with, but you wanna have intentionality on how you’re trying to start out on both ends of the floor.”
Sam Gordon
Stephen Curry said the Warriors want to have “intentionality” with how they start the regular season Tuesday in Los Angeles.
“Were a team that is building on the foundation we had last year. So, you want to win the first game. That’s kind of how you take it.”
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For Curry, opening night isn’t just symbolic. It’s a chance to remind the league that Golden State’s foundation still stands — even after a rollercoaster year.
Warriors Building on Last Season’s Foundation
Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
GettyJimmy Butler III #10, Stephen Curry #30, and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors joke around during the Golden State Warriors’ media day at Chase Center on September 29, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
Curry made it clear that the Warriors are not starting from scratch. The addition of Jimmy Butler late last season reshaped the team’s identity, helping Golden State re-emerge as a contender.
“Understanding that, again, we’re a team that is building on a foundation we had last year, so we want to win the first game,” Curry said. “That’s kind of how you take it, and it’s exciting knowing we’re starting on the road against a team that, ‘Bron’s not playing but, is lethal, with Luka. Good test to start out and hopefully we can hit the ground running.”
The Warriors’ new mix of veteran leadership and fresh depth means expectations are high — but so is accountability. Curry’s message? Focus and discipline first, results second.
Warriors Still Searching for Rhythm
While preseason results don’t tell the full story, the Warriors didn’t exactly breeze through theirs. They’ve been missing key players, including Butler, Moses Moody, and De’Anthony Melton, who have all sat out much of the exhibition slate.
Head coach Steve Kerr didn’t hide his frustration with the team’s carelessness during the preseason — particularly their turnover issues.
“We definitely had a turnover problem throughout the preseason, but I’m confident when the lights go on Tuesday, our guys will be locked in,” Kerr said. “We didn’t have a lot of consistent lineups in the preseason; we had a lot of mix-and-match lineups. But that’s not an excuse for the careless ones. We’ve got to improve.”
The Warriors’ focus heading into Tuesday night isn’t about perfection. It’s about sharpening habits that will last across 82 games.
Steve Kerr on the Warriors’ turnover problems this preseason:
“Some of it is just careless play and lack of fundamentals. One hand passes off the dribble when two hands are available… But I think Jimmy [Butler] solves a lot of that.“ pic.twitter.com/t0TmQ2C4Ju
— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) October 18, 2025
The Bigger Picture
For Curry, urgency isn’t panic — it’s purpose. He’s seen what happens when the Warriors play with clarity, and what happens when they don’t. Opening night in Los Angeles may be just the beginning, but it’s a statement opportunity for a team still chasing one more run.