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ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the second half during a game aagainst the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on November 18, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors are in crisis mode.
Jimmy Butler is out for the season with a torn ACL. Jonathan Kuminga left Tuesday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks with a leg injury. And the Warriors have dropped back-to-back games, falling 145-127 to the Toronto Raptors and 123-115 to Dallas.
The mood in the locker room is grim. But Stephen Curry is not letting the team spiral.
After Tuesday’s loss to the Mavericks, Curry made it clear that as long as he is on the floor, Golden State has a chance.
“As long as I’m out there, I’m always confident we can win,” Curry said. “Till proven otherwise, you have to carry on. That’s what this league requires.”
Curry’s confidence is rooted in experience. The Warriors have dealt with major injuries at crucial times throughout his career, and they have found ways to survive. Now, facing the loss of Butler for the season and uncertainty around Kuminga’s status, Curry is demanding resilience from his teammates.
“It’s obviously a tough situation,” Curry said. “First and foremost, you think about him [Jimmy Butler] in his recovery and his spirits, just trying to be there for him as your friend or teammate. But basketball-wise, we have to make the necessary adjustments and try to keep some semblance of our identity that we were forming with him as part of that. That push and these last two games have been difficult making that adjustment, but I think emotionally, we have to kind of try to move on as fast as possible to not let things fall in the wrong direction.”
Anthony Slater
Steph Curry’s first comments since the Jimmy Butler ACL news
“It’s no secret this is difficult for everyone to accept the reality of what’s going on.”
“As long as I’m out there I’m always confident we can win.”
Full soundbite
Jonathan Kuminga’s Injury Status Uncertain
Jonathan Kuminga #1 of the Golden State Warriors
GettyJonathan Kuminga #1 of the Golden State Warriors.
Kuminga left Tuesday night’s game in the first half after landing awkwardly while driving to the basket.
He was ruled out for the second half with what the team described as a left leg injury. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Kuminga limped out of the locker room after the game and said the knee was more bothersome than the ankle. He planned to wait and see how it felt in the morning before deciding whether to get an MRI.
The timing of Kuminga’s injury adds another layer of uncertainty to his situation. With the February 5 trade deadline approaching and the Warriors actively trying to move him, it is possible Kuminga has played his last game in a Golden State uniform.
Kuminga had just returned to the lineup after a month-long absence. He scored 20 points in his first game back against Toronto and was playing his second game Tuesday when the injury occurred. Now, with a potential trade looming and his health in question, Kuminga’s future with the Warriors is cloudier than ever.
Head coach Steve Kerr confirmed that Kuminga had not been practicing with the team during his DNP stretch, which makes the situation even more complicated. The Warriors brought him back out of necessity after losing Butler, but the relationship between Kuminga and the organization remains strained.
Whether Kuminga plays another game for Golden State before the deadline remains to be seen.
How Steph Curry Is Leading the Warriors Through Crisis
GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
Curry knows the team cannot afford to dwell on what they have lost.
“I know in sports and this league things can change overnight with an injury like that to a guy like Jimmy,” Curry said. “It happens all around the league and teams have to figure out how to go through it. It’s our turn now.”
Curry’s leadership is critical in moments like this. The Warriors are reeling, and without a steady voice pushing them forward, the season could quickly unravel. Curry is taking on that responsibility and demanding the same confidence from his teammates that he has in himself.
The Warriors need to focus on what they still have and figure out how to win games. Curry is making it clear that giving up is not an option.
The Warriors’ Identity Is Shifting to Survival Mode
Golden State was building momentum before Butler’s injury.
The Warriors won 11 of their last 15 games heading into Monday’s matchup with the Heat. They were playing their best basketball of the season and looked like a legitimate playoff contender. Butler’s ACL tear changed everything.
Now, the Warriors are in survival mode. They need to figure out how to stay competitive without their second-best player and potentially without Kuminga as well. That means relying more heavily on Curry, Draymond Green, and the supporting cast to carry the load.
Head coach Steve Kerr has leaned on Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton to provide offense when Curry rests. But the Warriors need size and athleticism on the wing to remain competitive. Losing Butler and potentially losing Kuminga to trade robs them of both.
Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski will see increased minutes, but neither has the same physical presence or defensive versatility that Butler and Kuminga provide. The Warriors will have to adjust their identity and play a different style if they want to stay afloat.
Curry understands that adjustment takes time. But he also knows the team does not have the luxury of waiting too long. The Warriors need to figure things out quickly before they fall too far in the standings.
What the Warriors Face Moving Forward
The Warriors are 25-21 and sit in eighth place in the Western Conference.
Without Butler, they were already facing an uphill battle to remain competitive. The uncertainty around Kuminga—both in terms of his health and his trade status—adds to the challenge.
Curry held back from making any projections about the team’s future after Tuesday’s loss. He is focused on the immediate challenge of adjusting to life without Butler and the possibility that Kuminga may not be available moving forward. The February 5 trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and the Warriors are still actively trying to move Kuminga before then.
What is clear is that the Warriors’ season now hinges on Curry’s ability to carry the team. He is 37 years old and playing heavy minutes. The physical and mental toll of leading a depleted roster through the second half of the season will test him in ways he has not been tested in years.
But Curry is not backing down. He remains confident in the Warriors’ ability to compete, and he is demanding the same confidence from his teammates. Whether that is enough to keep Golden State in the playoff race remains to be seen.
For now, the Warriors are in survival mode. And Curry is leading the way.