Golden State Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg (1) poses with Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) during media day at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg (1) poses with Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) during media day at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors accomplished their preseason goal, albeit not without a scare.
Steph Curry and the rest of the Golden State roster – sans Kristaps Porzingis – walked away from their sixth and final exhibition with their rickety roster intact entering the 2026-2027 season.
Curry’s ankle tweak in Sunday’s open practice was a jolt, but he’s expected to play in tonight’s season opener against the Lakers in Los Angeles.
Now that they’ve survived the six-game preseason, here are the top questions facing the Warriors as they embark on their 82-date regular-season schedule, with eyes on playing more in the postseason.
Can Curry stay healthy?
The days of Curry consistently logging 40 minutes or playing both ends of a back-to-back set are long gone. Curry averaged 19 minutes per game in the preseason and sat out one game entirely, along with the rest of the Warriors’ top veterans.
At nearly every opportunity, coach Steve Kerr let the public know that the team was carefully managing Curry’s runner’s knee by having him pass on practices when possible.
Curry is still the top sniper in basketball – GMs around the league unanimously voted him as the game’s top shooter – but asking him to carry the offense for 82 games appears to be a thing of the past.
Will the new offense offer new life?
Low-post splits are a thing of the past. Kerr promised changes, and he delivered. A new five-out offense was the talk of the preseason and a sometimes-painful reminder that old habits can be difficult to break.
The Warriors took more 3-pointers than anyone last season, but the new alignment that dots all five players along the perimeter creates better spacing … in theory.
Though the younger players took to the new scheme, Curry and Green both remarked how it forced them to rethink the way they play.
“There are subtle changes of personnel and skill sets,” Curry said. “The clarity around what we want to do offensively is there. You just ned reps at it.”
Is Yaxel Lendeborg ready to do it all?
When Yaxel Lendeborg handled the ball, the 6-foot-10 rookie with six years of college experience proved why experts tabbed him as arguably the most pro-ready member of his draft class. He had a smooth jumper and averaged 15.6 points per game while taking X of his X shots inside the paint. His rebounding was as good as advertised with Lendeborg grabbing 7.4 in just 23 minutes per game.
Defense, though … well, he admitted he needed to work at that. Though asking a tall forward to keep up with guards on the perimeter is a tough ask, he also struggled as a help defender at center and showed he is still learning to navigate the pick-and-roll game.
Who will play center?
Center is long on notable names and short on actual availability. When Porzingis will be back is anyone’s guess, as he deals with an unidentified health issue. Al Horford still has a reliable shot, defensive instincts and passing chops, but he suited up in only three preseason games and is now 40 years old.
Draymond Green is in line to play center, a physically taxing position the Warriors have attempted to move him away from as he enters his. Behind him are Charles Bassey and Graham Ike, two younger options who are untested in larger roles, and spot minutes from Lendeborg as a stretch five. Bassey showed promise in his start against the Lakers (12 rebounds and three blocks), but how he would manage a larger workload remains to be seen.
Bassey is also dealing with right knee tendinitis, further stretching the center group.
“Every game will be a little different depending on who is available … but we feel like we have a lot of depth to work with,” Kerr said.
What is next for Podziemski?
Teammates and coaches could not stop raving about how Brandin Podziemski appeared set to take another step in his development during training camp, and the front office displayed faith in the fourth-year guard by handing him a five-year extension. At just 24 and as the only person on the roster who played in all 82 games last season, he is one of the few players the Warriors can rely on nightly.
Aside from a new haircut and making waves by imitating Curry’s mannerisms, Podziemski has showcased a devotion to drawing fouls, even if the volume of actual attempts is not up appreciably yet. He had shot 22 free throws in five preseason games.
Oddly enough, the 6-4 Podziemski has drawn rave reviews from Kerr for being a … rim protector? Because of his ability to draw charges, Kerr and assistant coach Frank Vogel have categorized Podziemski as someone who deters drives.
But with a back injury knocking him out of the opener, it might be a little while before he has an opportunity to show that particular skill in a game.