Warriors’ Steph Curry must live up to title of NBA’s ‘best leader’

The greatest shooter of all time needs to validate the NBA GMs’ confidence in him, as his leadership will be crucial for the Warriors this season. Here are three reasons why.

1. As a likely play-in team, adversity is inevitable

Since winning the championship in 2022, Golden State hasn’t placed in the top half of the Western Conference playoff standings. Once the dominant force in the NBA, the Warriors have been surpassed by teams that — like they once did — have successfully built their rosters through the draft and are now reaping the rewards.

Many media outlets have projected Golden State to finish in the play-in tournament picture this season. Given last year’s underwhelming 10th-place finish, the prediction is fair but doesn’t count the team out from making noise in the postseason.

After being eliminated from the play-in tournament twice, Curry must draw on those experiences to lead. With 16 postseason elimination games in 15 seasons, he can inspire a resilient team as it competes for positioning.

2. The Warriors are full of young talent and new role players

Missing fellow “Splash Brother” Klay Thompson (now with the Dallas Mavericks) for the first time since 2011, Curry must help head coach Steve Kerr rebuild the backcourt.

Veterans Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton — all added in the offseason — are set to address Thompson’s three-point shooting gap. With Curry’s ability to create space, these three sharpshooters figure to require minimal additional support from Golden State point guard to thrive.

The Warriors’ potential this season largely depends on the performance of its young core. Despite being the third-oldest team in the league, the Golden State brings back four promising talents from last season: Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski. With an average age of just 22, this group should be eager to learn from one of the NBA’s all-time greats.

Curry’s skill set will make it easy for the veteran signings. If he can also support the development and contributions of the team’s young players, Golden State would stand to maximize its opportunities this season.

3. Keeping Draymond Green in line and on the court is critical

Although often dubbed the “emotional leader” of the team, Green, as history has shown, cannot be trusted to guide Golden State.

Last season marked a culmination for Green’s on-court behavior, resulting in two suspensions that kept him off the floor for 17 games. During his absence, the Warriors went 13-14, highlighting his impact given the narrow margin for play-in seeding.

While Curry cannot directly manage Green’s emotions, he can establish clear expectations for his teammates. Last season, Curry publicly expressed disappointment and frustration after his longtime friend was ejected during the Golden State’s playoff push in March, a notable shift for a superstar who has typically avoided conflict.