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Warriors’ Joe Lacob: Tanking not in our DNA

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Feb 21, 2026 3:04 PM ET

The Warriors are still swinging, even if the record says otherwise.

At 29-27 in late February, this hasn’t been the season anyone in the Bay envisioned. Injuries have piled up, consistency has been elusive, and the margin for error is thin.

That’s led to the familiar outside noise — the idea that maybe it’s time to pull the plug, slide down the standings and hope the lottery gods are kind.

Joe Lacob isn’t interested.

“I think you know, it is not in my DNA, nor in this organization’s DNA, to do that,” the Warriors owner told Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard. “It’s not a good look. This is sports. We’re supposed to play to win.”

Lacob didn’t stop there.

“And that’s just not a way I would be comfortable, ever, trying to improve our team,” he said. “Some of our fans, I’m sure — I hear it all the time — would love us to, whatever you want to call it, lose for a better draft position because they assume we’re not going to win this year. I could never do that. And I don’t think our coach (Steve Kerr) is built that way or our team.”

That’s about as clear as it gets.

The Warriors know the road is steep. They also know Stephen Curry is still wearing their uniform, and as long as that’s the case, waving the white flag isn’t an option. Maybe it ends in a first-round exit. Maybe it ends sooner. But Golden State is choosing competition over calculation.

This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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