With the Golden State Warriors struggling to string together wins without their biggest stars, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, fans and analysts like Kendrick Perkins have proposed that the team might be better off just letting the Chef sit out the rest of the season instead of letting him fight an uphill battle with a depleted roster.
However, many have pushed back against that idea, including former NBA players Lou Williams and Chandler Parsons, who said that doing so sends the wrong message to the young players on the Warriors. Most importantly, it runs counter to what Curry has stood for throughout his career: perseverance and determination.
The Warriors have a puncher’s chance
A quick look at the Western Conference standings indicates that the Warriors are currently eighth in the standings with a 30-27 record. However, the team has lost five of its last eight games. To make matters worse, Curry has yet to return to action as he recovers from a condition known as “runner’s knee.”
Taking all these into consideration, it’s clear the odds aren’t in Golden State’s favor, even if they do make it to the playoffs. But that hasn’t stopped Curry from remaining optimistic and determined, despite facing a tough road ahead. It’s this type of resilience and confidence that has Lou Will believing that the Warriors can still make noise in the postseason so long as Curry is on the floor.
“If you have a puncher’s chance, you have a chance, and they do,” Williams stated on “Run It Back.” “They’re still in the running to make a playoff spot and that gives you an opportunity. If you have Steph Curry in uniform, it gives you an opportunity.”
Curry’s last two appearances in the postseason have been spectacular. In 2023, he averaged 33.7 points and led the sixth-seeded Warriors past the third-seeded Sacramento Kings. Then in 2025, he averaged 24.0 points to help his squad stun the second-seeded Houston Rockets before suffering a hamstring injury in the second round.
That said, Williams says the idea of tanking the season with Curry still playing at a high level is completely asinine.
“I don’t know where they get off on this idea of shutting him down for the rest of the season … That sounds ridiculous to me,” Lou stated.
Continue the fight
Although the Warriors have been stuck in the mud since Butler went down with a season-ending ACL tear in early January, they have had their moments, including a 128-117 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets last Sunday — a win they pulled off without Draymond Green and newly-acquired Kristaps Porzingis.
It’s clear the Warriors aren’t done fighting just yet, and to sit Curry would not only be a disservice to the team but also to the fans who have supported them through thick and thin. Injuries are unfortunately part of the game, and while it may seem like a better option for long-term success, giving up on this season goes against everything the Warriors stand for.
“What message would that send to the young guys in that locker room?. Like, ‘Hey, we’re not the favorite to win a championship, so let’s sit down Steph Curry, our All-NBA, All-World player, and what? Just be ok with losing?’” Parson surmised. “You don’t just shut down Steph Curry because you’re not the favorite to win. That is soft. That whole thought process is wack.”
With Curry averaging 27.2 points this season, it’s apparent that the 37-year-old still has plenty of gas left in the tank. The ultimate game-changer and leader for the Warriors, Curry’s presence on the court carries a significant impact. The Warriors may no longer be the dominant force they once were, but it’s foolish to count them out when they have a player like Curry leading the charge.