The Warriors hit the one month mark of the season with mileage numbers that look more like a national tour than an NBA schedule. Golden State already moved through nearly eleven thousand miles, a staggering total that caught Steve Kerr off guard and set the tone for a blunt message about the league’s rising pace and growing injury risk, per ClutchPoints.
Kerr did not hide his disbelief. “It’s been the toughest early schedule I have ever been a part of in my entire NBA life,” he said, per Golden State of Mind. The comment held weight, considering he has lived nearly three decades inside the league. The Warriors also lean on a starting core that averages over thirty years old with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford carrying heavy responsibility. That group just traveled through a stretch that included stops in Los Angeles, Portland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Sacramento, Denver, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, New Orleans, Orlando, and Miami.
Based on city mapping and flight estimates, Golden State logged roughly 10,770 miles during its opening month. The trip that began on November 11 stretched past a full week, running the roster through multiple time zones and long jumps across the country. The team dropped several games as it cycled through the grind: losses in Portland, Milwaukee, Indiana, Sacramento, Denver, Oklahoma City, Orlando, and Miami. They grabbed wins in Los Angeles, two in San Antonio, and one in New Orleans.
The Warriors finally traveled back to the Bay Area after wrapping up the road swing in Miami, Foot Boom reports. They completed a run of twelve road games in seventeen total contests. Seven straight battles away from home closed the trip, including defeats in Orlando and Miami. The Heat won 110 to 96 while missing Jimmy Butler because of a back issue. Golden State missed multiple players as well with Draymond Green out because of illness, Curry dealing with an ankle sprain, Jonathan Kuminga managing knee tendinitis, and Horford sitting for rest.
Kerr did not mask his irritation with the rhythm of the schedule. “Literally, we have not had a single practice this trip. None,” he told reporters. “Eight days without practice. Just game after game, no chance to catch our breath.” He pointed out how earlier eras, even with four games in five nights, included longer rest pockets. He again voiced support for trimming the 82 game slate to something closer to 72.
Kerr Details Why the Pace of Play Adds More Pressure
Kerr expanded the conversation when asked about soft tissue injuries across the league. Several stars currently face multi week timelines because of groin and calf strains. Kerr connected that trend to an aggressive offensive pace that now defines the league.
“I am very concerned,” Kerr said, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater, per MSN. He pointed to dramatic speed increases and more teams pushing the ball early in possessions. “Everybody understands now that it is easier to score if you beat the opponent down the floor.” He noted that defenders must chase out to twenty five feet because of league wide shooting range, which places more stress on legs that already cover more ground than ever.
He added that NBA data shows players “running faster and further than ever before,” and that the Warriors have tried to protect their group. The challenge comes from the constant churn of the schedule. “We basically have a game every other night, and it is not an easy thing to do,” Kerr said.
Warriors Face a Travel Reality Few Teams Have Matched
Golden State now returns home, but Kerr’s comments highlight a larger theme. A veteran roster traveled through thirteen different cities in twenty nine days and played seventeen times without meaningful practice. The miles piled up quickly. The injuries around the league added another layer of concern. Kerr’s reaction summed up what the early stretch has felt like. A long ride, a difficult pace, and a belief that something needs to change.
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