For Warriors, age could end up being just a number

Can the Warriors still be better than people think?

According to ESPN’s Zach Kram, the answer might be yes. And maybe a lot better.

The Warriors, a decade removed from launching their dynasty, enter the season with just the seventh-best odds to win the West, per ESPN BET. The public perception? They’re too old, too slow, too past their prime. The reality, Kram argues, might be the opposite.

Curry and Butler

In half a season together last year, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler helped Golden State turn into a defensive powerhouse. From Butler’s debut through the end of the regular season, the Warriors ranked first in defensive rating and third in net rating, going 23-8 — the equivalent of a 61-win pace.

ESPN’s analytics now project 56 wins, second-best in the league behind only Oklahoma City.

Horford’s arrival

Golden State also added Al Horford, giving Curry the type of stretch big he’s never really had. Horford has shot over 40% from three the past three seasons and brings elite defensive instincts.

Pair him with Butler and Draymond Green, and the Warriors could once again hang their hat on defense — a trademark of every title team they’ve built.

Depth and continuity

Twelve of the top 13 rotation players are back, including rising guard Brandin Podziemski and do-it-all forward Jonathan Kuminga, who could either be a breakout player or trade chip.

By Kram’s count, five Warriors rank among the NBA’s top 10% most impactful players per possession — Curry, Butler, Green, Horford and Podziemski — tied with the Thunder and Rockets for most in the league.

Sure, the West is loaded, and Golden State’s core isn’t getting younger. But if Curry and Butler stay upright, and Horford fits the way many expect, the Warriors could turn “one last ride” into something far more interesting than nostalgia.