Stephen Curry optimistic Warriors can win another NBA championship

Curry sees bright future for Warriors despite early playoff exit, praises team chemistry and offseason potential.

Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield of the Golden State Warriors react to a missed shot during the fourth quarter of their 121-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Target Center in Minneapolis on May 14, 2025. Photo by Scott Strazzante/Getty Images

By Widya Putri and Amanda Zahra

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry says he remains confident the team can fight for another NBA championship, despite the team's second-round playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Speaking during Thursday’s end-of-season media session, Curry expressed optimism about the Warriors' future, pointing to the team’s late-season surge and improved chemistry after the addition of Jimmy Butler.

The Warriors were eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday night after a 121-110 loss to the Timberwolves at Target Center. That defeat sealed a 4-1 series win for Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals and marked a frustrating end to Golden State’s season. Curry, sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained in Game 1, was forced to watch the final four games from the bench.

Despite the early exit, Curry said the Warriors had proven they could still compete with the league's best, especially after their turnaround in the final two months of the regular season.

“You look at the sample size the last two months and even the Houston series when we had our mind focused on a goal, we had enough to accomplish it and get to a point where we were playing pretty high-level basketball,” said Curry. “Does that mean we can win a championship? We hope so. That’s really all you want — a fighter’s chance.”

Veteran roster still chasing glory

Curry, who turned 37 in March, acknowledged the changing landscape of the NBA, with many teams now led by rising young stars. But he emphasized that experience and belief were still valuable assets.

“You look at the league right now. I know there’s a lot of youth taking over, but we were one of the last eight teams that realistically had a shot,” he said. “If you can run that back, make some tweaks that can help our overall roster... I feel like we showed we could be that team.”

The Warriors finished the regular season strong, aided by Butler’s arrival in a midseason trade from Miami. The veteran forward quickly became an integral part of the rotation, helping the team upset second-seeded Houston in the opening round of the playoffs.

Curry praised Butler’s impact and said the duo had quickly developed an understanding on and off the court.

“Me and him complemented each other so well,” Curry said. “He gave us so much belief that we could beat anybody any given night and make a legitimate run at climbing up the standings. I think it was a success, and now you have to build off of that with a full season hopefully in front of us.”

A welcome offseason break

After a grueling stretch of competitive basketball that included last summer’s preparation for the Paris Olympics, Curry is looking forward to a more traditional offseason. The rest, he says, will be crucial in getting himself and the team ready for another campaign.

“I don’t have any Olympics and it’s going to be just about rebuilding — one, getting rest, getting away from the game a little bit, and then rebuilding everything for another great run,” Curry explained. “I’m going to take full advantage of the offseason knowing I’ve been playing a lot of basketball for the last year.”

He added that his teammates and coaching staff shared the same commitment.

“Me, Draymond [Green], Steve [Kerr], Jimmy — our contracts are all two years, and we want this ride to last as long as possible,” Curry said. “That’s all I’m really focused on right now. I’m excited about it because there’s clarity, although there are a lot of decisions that need to be made over the summer.”

Roster adjustments and belief in the core

While Curry did not speculate on specific offseason moves, he acknowledged that the front office would need to make some adjustments. The Warriors are expected to explore free agency and potential trades to strengthen the roster around their core of Curry, Green, Butler, and Klay Thompson — whose future remains uncertain with his contract set to expire.

Still, Curry’s belief in the current nucleus remains strong.

“We’ve been through a lot together, and there’s still more in the tank,” he said. “It’s about health, chemistry, and putting ourselves in a position where we can peak at the right time. I believe we can do that again.”

Golden State’s recent run of success — including four championships between 2015 and 2022 — has largely been powered by Curry’s leadership, the team’s passing and movement-oriented offense, and defensive versatility. Though the current group is older, Curry believes those elements still exist.

“When we’re locked in, we can still defend, move the ball, and get the kind of shots we want,” he said. “We just have to be smart about how we manage the minutes and build the rotation throughout the season.”

Fans still have hope

Despite the disappointment of another early postseason exit, many Warriors fans share Curry’s hopeful outlook. The late-season resurgence, along with Butler’s rapid integration, suggested that Golden State remains a dangerous opponent.

Some analysts argue that the Warriors were just a few injuries away from pushing deeper into the playoffs. Others point to the importance of securing home-court advantage earlier in the season to avoid matchups against higher-seeded teams.

Either way, Curry says the team has no intention of fading quietly.

“We’re competitors,” he said. “We’ve been blessed with incredible success, and we still believe we can add to that. The path isn’t easy — it never has been — but we’re going to give it everything.”

With the league increasingly driven by young superstars like Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, and Paolo Banchero, the challenge for Golden State will be to blend veteran savvy with just enough speed and stamina to keep up.

Curry believes the team is up to the task.

“There’s no reason to think we’re done,” he said. “We’ve shown flashes of who we can be. Now it’s about making it real — one more time.”