Golden State Warriors Team Review: 2024 - 2025 Season. 

2024 - 25 Record: 29-53

Season Highlight: 

In one of the savviest front-office moves in recent Warriors history, GM Daz’s acquisition of Jordan Poole has completely transformed Golden State’s offensive rhythm. Poole has blossomed into a legitimate star, averaging 32.1 points per game on 46% shooting, including a strong 35% from deep and an elite 88% from the line. His dynamic scoring and playmaking—paired with his ability to create off the dribble—have reignited the Warriors’ fast-paced, high-efficiency attack. Beyond the stats, Poole’s confidence and flair have injected fresh energy into the roster, providing a perfect bridge between the old guard and the next generation. Daz’s clever vision in bringing Poole back has not only stabilized the backcourt but also turned the tide for a team hungry to return to championship form. 

Isaiah Hartenstein was another shining light. He was nothing short of a revelation within the season, emerging as one of the most dependable big men in the league. In 58 starts, he’s anchored the paint with incredible efficiency—shooting a blistering 64% from the field and pulling down a dominant 14.9 rebounds per game, including 10.7 on the defensive glass. His presence inside has given the Warriors a much-needed interior backbone, while his 1.8 assists and 2.1 blocks per game highlight his versatility on both ends of the floor. Hartenstein’s relentless energy, smart positioning, and toughness have made him a cornerstone of Golden State’s frontcourt. For GM Daz, the move to secure Hartenstein looked like a masterstroke—turning a once-overlooked role player into a double-double machine and defensive anchor every night.

Season Lowlight: 

In a season that fell far below expectations, the Golden State Warriors endured in their 24-25 campaigns —finishing with just 23 wins and missing the playoffs by a wide margin. Despite highlights of Poole and Hartenstein, the team struggled to find rhythm or defensive consistency, often collapsing late in games. Injuries, lack of depth, and uneven performances from key veterans left the squad searching for answers. To make matters worse, Golden State doesn’t even hold its own first-round draft pick, a painful reminder of past trades that haven’t paid off. For GM Daz, it’s a harsh reality check after a year of big swings and bigger disappointments—one that leaves the franchise facing a long offseason of reflection and tough decisions.

Best Trade: 

The Jordan Poole trade has proven to be a massive win for the Golden State Warriors and GM Daz’s front office. Moving on from John Collins freed up flexibility and brought in a dynamic scorer in Poole, who has exploded offensively—averaging over 32 points per game and reestablishing himself as one of the league’s elite perimeter threats. His ability to create shots, space the floor, and energize the offense has redefined Golden State’s attack and reignited the team’s trademark pace and movement.

But the deal’s success doesn’t end there. The Warriors also landed a 2025 second-round pick (LAC #33), used to secure rising talent Liam McNeeley, a sharpshooting forward with strong two-way potential. McNeeley’s addition provides youth and depth, fitting perfectly alongside the Warriors’ developing core.

In hindsight, this trade looks like a strategic play that worked in the favour of the Warriors —turning Collins’ contract into a high-impact scorer and a promising future asset. It’s the kind of move that showcases Daz’s forward-thinking vision and has fans excited for both the present and the seasons ahead.

Worst Trade: 

The Warriors traded Aaron Nesmith, who was on an $11 million contract, for Josh Green ($13.7M) and Dante Exum ($2.3M). While Green and Exum provide experience and defensive depth, the trade immediately puts the Warriors at a financial disadvantage, taking on roughly $5 million more in combined salary for players who are not clear upgrades over Nesmith. Nesmith is a younger, developing talent with scoring upside, and losing him means the Warriors sacrificed long-term potential for minimal immediate gain. Green and Exum have not demonstrated the ability to consistently produce at a high level; their contribution is likely to be situational rather than transformative. Additionally, adding higher salaries reduces cap flexibility, limiting the team’s ability to make further moves or invest in emerging talent. In essence, the Warriors exchanged a promising young player and some financial efficiency for depth that is unlikely to significantly improve their starting lineup, making the trade look like a short-term, low-reward move with potential long-term downsides. Progression and maturation didn’t go their way here, with Nesmith looking to be on the up, and already acquiring an 80 overall in 2k26. A rare L for Daz here. 

Free Agency: 

The Warriors went into free agency needing to acquire a new center and add depth. With money in the bank, and a few holes, GM Daz needed to go looking to make the team more rounded, and balanced. Still without their pick until 2028, Daz needed to use FA day to acquire contracts and players with upside and longevity on their side. 

Star: Poole & Harris 

With no identifiable star, I have taken a different tact. I see the Warriors as being a 1-2 punch from 1st to 2nd rotations. Already we have seen this play out. Jordan Poole and Tobias Harris could form a potent star duo for the Warriors, combining shooting, versatility, and size. Poole excels as a scorer, particularly from three, with strong ball-handling and quickness that allows him to create his own shot and drive in transition, though his defense is average. Harris complements him perfectly, offering versatile scoring inside and out, solid rebounding, and respectable defensive ability for a forward, making him a reliable presence on both ends. Together, they create spacing nightmares for opponents: Poole can pull defenders out to the perimeter while Harris cuts or attacks the rim, and their pick-and-roll game would keep defenses guessing. Poole’s agility and shooting paired with Harris’s size and finishing ability make them an ideal duo in 2K or real-life strategy, covering each other’s weaknesses and giving the Warriors a dynamic, balanced offensive threat capable of being the team’s primary stars. 

Draft Grades:  B+

Joan Beringer

Asa Newell

Jase Richardson

Sion James

Bogoljub Markovic

Brooks Barnhizer

Without a lottery selection, the Warriors acquired a slew of rookies that could be anything. It truly is luck of the draw, and Daz selected impeccably. The Warriors’ rookie selections this year are an exciting mix of talent and potential, featuring Joan Beringer, Asa Newell, Jase Richardson, Sion James, Bogoljub Markovic, and Brooks Barnhizer. Each brings a unique skill set that could make an immediate impact. Beringer offers versatility and high basketball IQ, capable of contributing on both ends, while Newell is an explosive scorer with the athleticism to change games in transition. Richardson brings defensive intensity and playmaking, providing stability in the backcourt, and James adds size, rebounding, and rim protection that the team can lean on, who has already been exceptional in his court time within the NBA. Markovic’s European-style shooting and court vision offer a modern, spacing-friendly element, and Barnhizer rounds out the group with energy, hustle, and the ability to stretch the floor. Together, this rookie class gives the Warriors a deep pool of talent with high ceilings, ensuring a strong foundation for the future and an injection of athleticism, shooting, and versatility into the roster.

The Lineup (25-26): 

C: Lopez / Bradley

PF: Issac / Newell

SF: Eason / Harris 

SG: Brooks / Allen 

PG: Poole / NAW

The Warriors’ 2025–26 lineup looks balanced but with clear strengths and weaknesses. At center, Lopez provides veteran presence and rim protection, while Bradley adds energy off the bench. PF Issac and rookie Newell give a mix of experience and athletic upside, though consistency could be an issue. Harris at SF offers scoring and versatility, complemented by Eason’s defensive capabilities. The backcourt features Poole as the primary playmaker and shooter, with Brooks and Allen providing depth and secondary scoring. Overall, the team has strong offensive potential, especially from Poole, Harris, and Lopez, and enough depth to manage rotations, but defensive cohesion and experience outside the core veterans could be a concern

Season Prediction: 30  -  52