Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Golden State Warriors’ head coach, Steve Kerr, recently spoke to the media following practice ahead of their preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was asked whether he was close to deciding the starting lineup for the two teams’ opening-night matchup in the 2026-27 regular season, scheduled in less than 10 days.
“I’m leaning towards it,” Steve Kerr said about using a starting lineup featuring Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Draymond Green.
“Al could be in there, but just given where he is minutes-wise per game, the guy’s going to play 20 [minutes], which is probably about the limit, or where we’d like him to average. It’s just a lot easier to bring him in off the bench. I also like the idea of having Draymond [Green] or Al on the court as often as possible to anchor our defense. So, yeah, I’m leaning that way,” he further added.
While Al Horford is contending for a potential starter role, the Warriors are also missing two key names among the potential starters who they could have used if they were fully healthy: Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis.
We know that Butler is recovering from a torn right ACL, but there is no concrete update on Kristaps Porzingis’ health.
Anthony Slater of ESPN suggested that it could be something related to Porzingis’ upper respiratory virus that he suffered two seasons ago and had vaguely hinted about suffering its lingering effects to this day. But for now, his official status remains out due to a ‘health issue’.
Porzingis is expected to return to the Warriors’ practice facility tomorrow. Kerr also addressed the situation during the press conference.
“He’ll be here tomorrow, and no update beyond that, but he’ll be in the building tomorrow meeting with Rick and the performance team,” Kerr said, regarding Porzingis’ availability.
“All of that will be determined once we get him back here and have discussions, and figure out where he is; all that stuff,” he further added on whether Porzingis will be available to even come off the bench on opening night.
Slater also suggested the Warriors could waive Kristaps Porzingis next summer since only $3 million of his $20 million salary for 2027-28 is guaranteed.
“The contract was structured strategically to allow the Warriors to trade Porzingis at any point and limit their long-term downside. Only $3 million of the $20 million next season is guaranteed,” he wrote in his recent report.
“Porzingis has been in regular contact with Celebrini and the Warriors’ front office the past two weeks while on an indefinite absence, while the front office has told Kerr and the team to focus on the season rather than deal with Porzingis’ unclear availability,” Slater further reported.
The Latvian big man played only 32 games in the 2025-26 season, split between the Hawks and the Warriors. He averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, shooting 44.6% from the field and 33.8% from beyond the arc.
The Warriors are two preseason games away from the regular season tip-off. Subsequently, they will face Luka Doncic and the Lakers on opening night, October 21. We should find out over the next week whether Porzingis will be healthy enough to return by then.