Stephen Curry Shuts Down Talk of Warriors’ Decline: 'We’ve Heard It Before'

Stephen Curry has heard all the talk. After the Warriors failed to make a deep playoff run last season, critics have labeled them “expired goods”—a veteran team past its prime and clinging to the final moments of relevance. But in a recent interview, the 4x champion made it clear that Golden State isn’t done yet. Speaking from the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, Curry pushed back on the narrative and insisted that health, not age, is what separates contenders from pretenders.

“We’ve heard it for even before the ‘22 championship,” he told NBC Sports Bay Area. "We heard it, so to the point like it’s all it all comes down to health. I mean, if you look at every team, [Oklahoma City] had a relatively healthy run. And that’s what you need. Like, vets get through a regular season. Try to be in a position where we’re not chasing anything down the stretch.”

The Warriors have faced tough times since their 2022 title run. Roster turnover and internal changes created instability, but things began to settle following the acquisition of Jimmy Butler. Now, despite their recent struggles, Steph believes his team can build off their momentum from last season.

“I know I got hurt,” Curry said. “But you just want to build off that for another year to build chemistry with Jimmy. You know Draymond will do his thing. Hopefully, some of our young guys are able to take another step. That’s an annual process. Just take what we did great, know we’re going to have to elevate that and do it more consistently for a whole year.”

Steph revolutionized the NBA with his perimeter shooting and unprecedented range. With career averages of 24.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game on 44.8% shooting, his superior shooting has led to four championships for the Warriors, and he's not yet done in his title pursuit. Even after a bitter first-round exit against the Timberwolves in the first round, Curry believes his team can overcome the obstacles by playing smart and being ready when it counts.

Sadly, it hasn't stopped the critics from casting doubt on the Warriors. With Klay Thompson gone, Draymond Green aging, and the injuries piling up, it’s easy to doubt whether the Warriors’ championship window is already shut. In fact, many experts have already counted them out of the 2026 title race.

Just like Steph and the Warriors did in 2022, they have a chance to prove everyone wrong and show that their championship window has not closed. While the players are older now, and some new faces have joined the mix, the Warriors are still in good shape heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

Jonathan Kuminga is stepping into a larger role, and the front office still has key decisions to make on depth and spacing. But with Curry still producing at an elite level, and now with a full offseason to regroup, Golden State may not be done just yet.

Curry isn’t guaranteeing another ring, but he’s not walking away from the fight, either. As one of the greatest leaders in NBA history, he’s betting on chemistry, experience, and a little good fortune to give the Warriors one last run. Whether or not the dynasty has truly expired, Curry’s belief in his team hasn’t.