The Athletic NBA Daily The Athletic NBA Daily

Golden State Warriors Preview

Sep 16, 2026 · 35m

Summary

Zena Castellanos joins Dave to preview the Golden State Warriors, focusing on the "two-timeline" era and the integration of rookie Yaxel Landborg. They debate the front office's choice of stability over a final championship push for Steph Curry, identifying team health as the primary X-factor. The discussion covers the potential trade of Jimmy Butler and the legacy of the Curry era, concluding with predictions that include a Curry extension and Brandon Williams earning a Sixth Man award.

Topics discussed

Sponsors: ZocDoc, Discover, and Granger Welcome and introduction of guest Zena Cardin Warriors offseason: Stagnation vs. 'It is what it is' The 'Two Timeline' era and Yaxel Landeborg's role Managing the closing window and front office strategy Steph Curry's age, injuries, and competitive ceiling Win projections: Floor of 42, ceiling of 48 wins Sponsors: Onnit and ServiceNow X-Factor: Team health and availability Yaxel Landeborg's defensive role and rookie expectations Rookie development and fitting into the Warriors system Bold predictions: Steph extension and Brandon Williams Jimmy Butler trade scenario and loyalty Steph Curry's legacy and graceful decline Front office efforts and final thoughts on the team Outro and final sponsor reads
Listen ad-free on Castria