SAN FRANCISCO — Changes Ahead for the Warriors

Steve Kerr’s preseason speech to the Golden State Warriors had a noticeable absence of two familiar themes as he prepares for the upcoming season.

First off, there’s no more favoritism towards Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

“We built this team in such a way that I literally told everybody, all of you guys have to take care of the ball, they’re allowed to turn it over six times,” Kerr said. “We’ve got to tighten things up.”

This emphasis on cleaner and crisper basketball is part of a significant redesign, especially after last season’s lackluster performance where the team ranked near the bottom in turnovers.

Kerr described this shift as a way to “reimagine” Warriors basketball as he enters his 14th season. The roster is aging, and younger, better teams are moving ahead.

It’s reflected in their own expectations for this season, particularly with how many more seasons Curry might have left with the team after signing a two-year extension at a discounted rate.

For the first time in quite a while, the conversation during media day didn’t revolve around potential championships.

This time, the focus was on “process.”

“Last year I might have told the team during our first meeting, ‘We’re trying to win the championship,’” Kerr recalled. “What’s our goal? They all said, ‘championship.’ I think I even remarked about wanting a home court advantage in the playoffs.”

This season, having pondered stepping away, Kerr stated, “I am 100% locked in on the process of how we’re teaching every single day.” He emphasized that if they approach the season without fixating on expectations, they could be set up for a successful run.

After witnessing other stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard find new homes, perhaps the Warriors are simply being realistic about their chances. Currently, there are 14 teams listed with better odds to win the NBA title according to DraftKings.

Their tone lacks the confident bravado associated with their dynasty years, which culminated in the 2022 championship.

Kerr highlighted the Warriors’ “under the radar” signings like Brandon Williams and Georges Niang as capable players who have contributed to winning teams. Meanwhile, General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. had to temper his enthusiasm after missing out on other prospects.

“First and foremost,” he admitted, “we’re humbly optimistic about the prospects for this team.”

Championship contenders aren’t typically known for their humility.

The Warriors have little choice when their two key players, Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, won’t be available until at least the middle of the season. Dunleavy received a sobering reminder of the challenges ahead when a call from Kristaps Porzingis informed him of recurring health issues. This means their starting center won’t be attending training camp in Hawaii and will be out indefinitely.

Curry, ever the team player, committed to another season, even when he could have leveraged his position to push for roster improvements. Instead, he chose to sign an extension that offered the team more financial flexibility, sacrificing about $10 million this season in the process.

This decision has led to a decrease in Curry’s income rather than immediate roster upgrades.

“Without knowing the answers to the test, it felt like the best way to prepare, if that makes sense,” Curry shared. “This is home. This is what we’ve built. Finishing my story the right way is essential to what I can control.”

Curry appeared taken aback when a reporter mentioned that “nobody” expected them to make the playoffs, replying with a surprised, “Damn!”

“That’s how bad it is?” he questioned regarding the external expectations.

Kerr, however, seemed ready to embrace the opportunity to play as underdogs for a change.

“I don’t mind that everyone is picking us to miss the playoffs. That’s not a bad place to be for a team, for a coach,” he remarked, reiterating his focus on the process.

Prior to injuries to Butler and Moody, the Warriors were already falling short of their championship goals. After Butler’s injury on January 19, they were positioned at 25-19, ranked eighth in the Western Conference.

Lacking significant changes from last season—aside from the addition of defensive assistant Frank Vogel, which Kerr viewed as a positive move—the Warriors seem ready to rethink how they utilize their current roster.

“We lost too many close games. We gave away too many games with little mistakes,” Kerr noted. “The vision for this year is to clean that up, build some momentum, and, when those players return, we’ll be in a better place.”

Green is also being asked to adjust his role, spending more time on the perimeter and shooting more open shots from three-point range. “Shooting, crashing, you know, spreading the floor for others, dribble hand-off stuff,” Kerr explained, adding another key point: they need to turn the ball over less.

Green countered the idea that having championship expectations is necessary to achieve them.

“I don’t want to sound cliché, but in 2022 nobody entered the season thinking it was going to be a championship year. Our process was solid, which allowed us to improve throughout the season and ultimately become a championship team,” he reflected.

There it is again—process.

It might just be the one thing the Warriors can control this season.

“Put together a solid process, and then you get to the end,” Green concluded, “and you let the cards fall where they may.”