Stephen Curry Says Warriors Want To Avoid Play-In Chase This Season

The Golden State Warriors are tired of chasing the pack. After a frustrating 2024-25 season that saw them fighting to escape the play-in tournament, Stephen Curry says the team is focused on establishing itself near the top of the Western Conference early. Speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area, Curry reflected on last year’s grind and made it clear the Warriors are aiming to pace themselves smarter this time around.

“Can you get your identity and your style of play and your team committed to that?” Curry said. “Last year, we were chasing a little towards the end of the year to try and get out of the play-in. Then from there, we gave it a great run in the playoffs — just didn’t work out.”

For Curry, his goal is simple: to maintain consistency throughout the season and put themselves in a position to make a playoff run next spring. Last year, after going 25-26 through the first 51 games, Curry wants to avoid another slow start and stay healthy in the process.

“Trying to be in a position where we’re somewhere at the top of the Western Conference throughout the vibe and not have to be on the gas pedal all the way down the stretch, and hopefully we’re all healthy come April," continued Curry.

While the start of the regular season is still months away, Curry believes in the success of his group thanks to a veteran, star-studded core that includes Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. As far as the rest of the roster, it’s on the front office to build a rotation that fits around Steph’s game.

“The way our organization is run, me, Draymond, Jimmy [Butler] are trying to make sure we’re prepared individually and collectively to lead our team to where we’re supposed to go," Curry explained. "All that stuff will take care of itself. It’s the front office’s job to bring the best team back. When September 29th comes around and we’re suiting up for practice, we’ll be ready.”

As a 4x champion, 2x MVP, and 11x NBA All-Star, Steph knows success more than most of his peers. With career averages of 24.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game, he's one of the NBA's many legends and a modern-day hero of the game.

At 37 years old, Curry knows the end is near for his basketball journey, but he doesn't want to fade quietly. As he goes into his 17th NBA season, Steph is ready to pick up where he left off last season, when the Warriors went 23-7 to move to seventh in the West. They beat the Houston Rockets in the first round before being eliminated by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With Steph, Draymond, and Jimmy, the Warriors certainly have a chance to pull off something special, but they'll need to settle some things before anyone picks them as the favorites in the West. Arguably, the most pressing issue is the ongoing saga with Jonathan Kuminga, who played a notable role in their success last season.

Stephen Curry isn’t trying to repeat last season’s script. He wants the Warriors in control from the start, and that means building consistency, chemistry, and clarity around the roster from day one. If Golden State can stay healthy, settle the Kuminga situation, and establish an identity early, they’ll have a real shot to avoid the chaos of the play-in. And with Curry, Green, and Butler leading the charge, no one’s counting them out.