Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob has never been shy about making bold predictions — but this time, he’s happy to admit he was wrong.
Speaking on The TK Show with Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard, Lacob reflected on the remarkable longevity of his franchise icons Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, both of whom remain elite contributors deep into their 30s.
“I’m going to have to be really honest here,” Lacob said. “There’s no sense trying to paint it any other way. I did not expect — if you would ask me 5, 10 years ago — that these guys would still be playing and playing at this level, with this level of health at age 37 for Steph and Dray [Green] at 35 turning 36.”
Curry, Green Defy Father Time
Curry, entering his 17th NBA season, continues to perform among the league’s elite. In ESPN’s annual player rankings, the two-time MVP landed seventh overall, ahead of LeBron James (40) and just behind rising star Anthony Edwards (24). Half of the top six, led by Nikola Jokić (30) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27), have three players under 27 years old, which reflects the NBA’s youth movement — but Curry remains an outlier of longevity and efficiency.
Meanwhile, Draymond Green, fresh off a season in which he finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, continues to anchor Golden State’s defense with his trademark grit and intelligence.
“I definitely would not have predicted that,” Lacob admitted. “I would have gone with the odds and said probably not likely. Maybe I would’ve thought Steph — because he’s such a great shooter — could sustain it, but history shows otherwise. Once players get over 30, they tend to decline or get injured. It happens more often than not.”
Modern Medicine Extends the Warriors’ Window
Lacob credited advancements in sports science and player investment in body maintenance for extending elite careers across sports.
“LeBron James is amazing that he continues to play at this age, and Tom Brady in football did the same,” Lacob said. “So yes, there’s a trend — but Father Time is Father Time. My honest answer is that I never would’ve expected Steph and Dray to still be at this level.”
The NBA’s Oldest Core: Betting on Experience
While the Oklahoma City Thunder captured last season’s championship as the youngest NBA title team in 48 years, the Warriors are embracing the opposite philosophy.
Golden State doubled down on its aging core this offseason, signing 39-year-old Al Horford to join Curry, Green, and 36-year-old Jimmy Butler — forming the oldest projected starting lineup in the league.
“When you’ve got four guys in your potential starting lineup over 35, I understand the criticism — that we could be subject to injuries or age catching up,” Lacob said. “That could happen. But if we stay healthy and get contributions from the rest of the roster, we could meet Kevin Pelton’s target.”
Analytics Remain Bullish on Warriors
Despite concerns about age and health, ESPN analyst Kevin Pelton’s win-projection model remains high on Golden State. The Warriors are projected to win 56.1 games, trailing only the Thunder’s 59.2, according to Pelton’s 2025 forecast.
“The Warriors might have the single most surprising projection for any team,” Pelton wrote. “Having added RAPM superstar Jimmy Butler III for a full season — they won at a 63-win pace with Butler in the lineup last season — the Warriors also have 11 players who rate better than league average, tied with Oklahoma City for most of any team.”
For a franchise built on sustained excellence, Lacob’s once-doubted veterans remain central to keeping the Warriors in the championship mix — no matter their age.
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