The 2022 Golden State Warriors championship was a triumphant return to glory for a franchise that had dominated the NBA for the better part of a decade. That title, their fourth in eight years, felt like both a validation of their enduring greatness and a passing of the torch to a new era. Yet, just two years later, the core of that championship team has dwindled significantly. Only Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Moses Moody, and head coach Steve Kerr remain from the roster that hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2022. The question now looms large: Is the Warriors dynasty fading, or is this the beginning of a carefully calculated rebuild?
The 2022 championship was a story of resilience. The Warriors had endured two painful years of missing the playoffs after Kevin Durant’s departure and Klay Thompson’s back-to-back injuries. Many doubted whether Curry, Green, and Thompson could reclaim their status as champions. But they silenced the skeptics with a masterful playoff run, blending the old guard with emerging talents like Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, and Kevon Looney. It was a perfect mix of experience and youthful energy, a bridge between eras.
Fast forward to today, and the landscape looks drastically different. Klay Thompson, the other half of the legendary Splash Brothers, is no longer with the team after a storied 13-year run. His departure marks the end of an era, leaving Curry as the last remaining pillar of the original dynasty. Jordan Poole, once viewed as the heir apparent to Curry, was traded after a tumultuous season. Andrew Wiggins, the 2022 Finals X-factor, remains but has seen his role fluctuate. Kevon Looney, the unsung hero of the Warriors’ interior, has been relegated to a diminished role. The only young player still standing from that 2022 rotation is Moses Moody, a promising but still-developing wing.
So, what does this mean for the Warriors? Is this the slow fade of a once-unstoppable dynasty, or are they strategically retooling for another run? The answer lies somewhere in between. The Warriors are not the same juggernaut that terrorized the league from 2015 to 2019, but they are also not a team ready to fade into obscurity. Steph Curry remains one of the best players in the world, a transcendent talent capable of carrying a team deep into the playoffs. Draymond Green, despite his controversies, remains the defensive heartbeat and emotional leader of the squad. Steve Kerr’s system is still as potent as ever when the right pieces are in place.
The front office has made calculated moves to stay competitive while also preparing for the future. The acquisition of Chris Paul last offseason was a bold, win-now move, even if it didn’t yield immediate success. The drafting of Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski shows a commitment to developing young talent. The Warriors are trying to straddle the line between contending and rebuilding—a difficult balance to maintain in the modern NBA.
But the biggest factor in determining whether this is a fade or a rebuild is Steph Curry himself. As long as he is playing at an MVP level, the Warriors will always have a chance. The problem is that time is undefeated, and Curry, now in his mid-30s, can’t carry a flawed roster forever. The supporting cast must step up. Draymond Green must stay focused and productive. The young players must accelerate their development. And the front office must make savvy moves to fill the gaps left by departures like Thompson’s.
The 2022 championship feels like both a culmination and a turning point. It was the last hurrah for the original core, a final moment of dominance before the inevitable changes began. Now, the Warriors are in a transitional phase—not quite rebuilding, but no longer the overwhelming force they once were. The dynasty, in its purest form, may be fading, but the foundation is still strong enough to build something new. Whether that leads to another title remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: as long as Steph Curry is in a Warriors uniform, hope will never truly die.
The next few seasons will be critical in defining this era of Warriors basketball. Will they find the right pieces to maximize Curry’s remaining prime? Or will they pivot toward a full-scale rebuild once he retires? For now, the Warriors are caught between two worlds—honoring the past while cautiously shaping the future. The dynasty may not be what it once was, but in the NBA, fortunes can change quickly. And if there’s one franchise that knows how to defy expectations, it’s the Golden State Warriors.
