The Golden State Warriors had a strong start to the 2025-26 season after what was one of the most unique summers in recent league history. However, after beginning the year 4-1, the Warriors are now a combined 6-6, with six straight road losses, and infighting has now taken center stage on the team.
Most recently, Anthony Slater of ESPN reported on some issues within the Warriors locker room, specifically stemming from comments made by Brandin Podziemski on Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler‘s thoughts on Jonathan Kuminga, and Draymond Green‘s response to it all.
“I think everyone has a personal agenda in this league,” Green said after a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on the back of the recent internal strife. “But you have to make those personal agendas work within the team confines. If it doesn’t work, you kind of got to get rid of your agenda or eventually the agenda is the cause of someone getting rid of you.”
The Warriors have new injury updates on Al Horford, Quinten Post, and Kuminga for their upcoming game against the San Antonio Spurs, which could also spell more struggles as the season goes on. Along with the poor performances, Golden State has been without many of its top contributors at different points of the first few weeks of the year.
Warriors’ Internal Tension Is Becoming Clear
Some of the tension inside the locker room of the four-time champions has stemmed from comments Podziemski made on Curry before the season. Though the guard remains in a much more minimal role compared to the franchise superstar, his thoughts on wanting ‘to be better’ than Curry didn’t go over well with the team, according to Slater.
“Podziemski made a number of comments in the lead-up to the season about his long-term career ambitions, including a news conference answer to a question about whether he wanted to be as great as Steph Curry,” the insider wrote. “Podziemski said he ‘wants to be better than him,’ an answer that elicited some eyerolls and continued references from several within the organization.”
Per Bleacher Report, those ‘eyerolls‘ are not a good sign for the team that expects to compete for a title in what appears to be the final stages of the historic dynasty. However, it wasn’t the only comment that caused some rigidity within the roster.
“Myself, I can’t have turnovers,” Butler said after the team’s latest loss, then referring to Kuminga, who is currently second on the team in turnovers. “JK can’t have turnovers…We’re the ones that have to keep our turnovers down.”
While Curry missed some time with an illness, he also put some of the blame on himself, but made it clear that by echoing Green’s comments, the different ‘agendas’ on the Warriors are becoming an issue.
“I kind of fell into [the agenda thing] a little bit myself,” Curry said. “But the bigger issue when you lose is you start to look around and figure out what’s the issue.”
There were high hopes for Golden State before the season started, but Slater’s recent reporting has shed light on what appears to be a team fighting for an identity and one clear goal.
Injury Report Isn’t Helping Either
While the worries about the relationships between the players are one issue, the Warriors have also been unhealthy to start the year, something that isn’t as surprising considering the average age of the team.
Horford is the most notable, as though his arrival was a big moment over the summer, but he has yet to play a significant role on the statsheet. In seven appearances, the former champion with the Boston Celtics is averaging only 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds on 34.9% shooting in 21.4 minutes per game.
Head coach Steve Kerr knew the 39-year-old wouldn’t play in back-to-back games this year, but the lack of production and availability has been clear since the season began. What is a good sign for the Warriors is that after sitting out against the Thunder, Horford expects to suit up against the Spurs.
Additionally, Post and Kuminga were the latest Golden State players to have an uncertain status when they face Victor Wembanyama. Post was listed as probable against San Antonio with an Achilles injury, while Kuminga was tagged as questionable with a knee issue. They are two of the four players who have yet to miss a game this season, and their services could be missed as Post leads the team in blocks, and Kuminga in minutes.
Curry, Butler, Green, Moses Moody, Will Richard, and a few others have also missed at least one game, and while Golden State hasn’t shared the same injury luck, or lack thereof, compared to other teams, their availability has not been consistent night to night.
That could play a part in the recent skid, but the comments made by players across the roster could also be a factor. Butler said he expects the team to fix its internal issues, but as Green mentioned, they don’t feel or look like a contender right now.
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