The new-look Golden State Warriors have come out of the gates smoking at the start of the 2024-25 NBA season. Golden State became the first franchise in league history to win its first two games by at least 35 points.
On the surface, this appears like one of those useless records that receive extra hype on social media, but looking a little deeper, it could mean more than meets the eye. Although the NBA season is an 82-game marathon, this is the first time the Warriors have started 2-0 since their last title run during the 2021-22 campaign.
That doesn’t mean Golden State is a lock to win it all, but it is something. Some will look at the competition being Portland and Utah to open the year and dismiss it. However, this retooled Warriors roster could be a real factor in the stacked Western Conference moving forward.
One of the Warriors’ biggest offseason acquisitions, Buddy Hield, is off to the hottest start, shooting 75 percent from three-point range and averaging 24.5 points per game. Of course, those numbers will come back down to earth, but if he can give Golden State consistent play besides Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins, this team could sneak up on teams this year.
Not many people were picking the Warriors heading into the 2021-22 season, either. All they did that season was win 53 games and a fourth championship under head coach Steve Kerr. That was also the season where Klay Thompson made his return after missing two full campaigns and contributed greatly to that title run.
Now with Thompson out of the picture, the Warriors come in with a blend of fresh faces mixed with old faithful. Similar to how they competed during that championship year, a mix of “old” and young.
Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green represented the old core group that season and players like Jordan Poole, Gary Payton II, Andrew Wiggins and others were the new (or young) breed on the team in terms of championship experience. Now names like Hield, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton are expected to add that depth Golden State will need in order to make a deep run.
Nothing is given, but don’t be surprised if Golden State creeps up to be one of the top three or four teams in the Western Conference. No one expected them to win that first title of the Curry/Kerr era in ’15, and the same goes for the fourth a few years ago. Don’t be shocked if they’re still around in late May and June competing for No. 5 in this era.
