The Golden State Warriors are entering the twilight of their dynasty, but the franchise isn’t going out quietly, as they hope to raise one more NBA championship with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr.
That campaign begins against the Los Angeles Lakers to open the 2025-26 NBA season, but before that game begins, Golden State has yet to decide on a starting rotation. With the new addition of Al Horford, while bringing back Jonathan Kuminga and others, Kerr has multiple starting lineups to choose from.
However, Shams Charania of ESPN recently offered insight as to what the Warriors will do against the Lakers. Speaking on NBA Today, the insider said he expects Kerr to start Kuminga over Horford.
“I‘m told Steve Kerr is leaning towards starting Jonathan Kuminga in the starting lineup, which would mean Al Horford coming off the bench,” Charania said. “I think that’s something to keep an eye on early in the season.”
Days, and even hours before the game, Kerr himself has yet to speak on who he plans to start, but as seen in the past, Charania’s reporting tends to be reputable. Curry, Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski, Kuminga, and Green expect to start tonight, according to the insider’s reporting.
Shams On The Warriors Starting Lineup
While Curry, Butler, and Green are shoo-ins as starters when healthy, the other two spots remain relatively open. Horford was expected to start, but Charania’s reporting, compounded with the recent news that the center won’t play in back-to-back games this year, could mean a significant drop in minutes for the veteran.
“Al Horford, his age, how many years he’s been in the league, and monitoring that,” Charania said on how the Warriors will use their new big man.
Podziemski was a consistent starter for the Warriors last season, as he and Buddy Hield will likely battle over who starts in the backcourt next to Curry. Moses Moody is another potential candidate to start at guard at some point in the year, but for now, he remains sidelined with a calf injury.
“Moses Moody is another player who is injured, has a calf strain, he’s going to be out tonight,” the insider added. “He was vying for a potential starting spot too, (but) he will not be starting tonight… I’m told, Friday potentially, as a debut for Moses Moody.”
For Kuminga, even after his contract stalemate and potential departure at some point in the season, the news that he expects to start could come as a surprise. Kerr has sung the wing’s praises recently, and though the two haven’t seen eye to eye in the past, Kuminga is set for a big role, while he is still on the team.
Golden State has struggled in the past with rim-protection, but the news that Kerr plans to start Kuminga over Horford signals he isn’t worried about that issue against the Lakers. The scoring options will be there, and the center will likely come in and out of the starting lineup as the season progresses.
Steph Curry On Being A Face Of The League
While just hours until the Warriors begin their season, Charania’s update comes as a surprise to many following the team over the summer. Regardless, the season opener marks another big moment for the franchise, as it will be the start of Curry’s 17th season with the team, marking one of the longest streaks of playing for one team in NBA history.
Speaking with Nick Friedell of The Athletic about his continued success after what has already been a Hall of Fame career, Curry said it is ‘surreal‘ that at age 37, he is still one of the faces of the league.
“It is surreal,” Curry said. “Because life flashes, life just goes so fast. And you think 17 years in and you’re still in your head able to play at a level that you know can still win games at a high level.”
Green believes both Curry and LeBron James sit much higher than the rest of the NBA when it comes to their star power.
“I think a lot how you’ve heard over the last couple years, like, ‘Who’s the face?’” Green added. “It always turns back to those guys. I think we’ll be in constant search because I don’t know anyone that can carry the way those two guys have.”
While the Warriors are playing the Lakers to start the season, James will be out, sidelined with sciatica for at least the next few weeks. Still, both he and Curry remain the biggest draws in the league.
Regardless of Kerr’s decisions on the Warriors’ starting lineup, it will be Curry who holds the keys to the team’s success this season.
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