As the Golden State Warriors enter the 2025–26 season, every projection points toward a starting five built on continuity, veteran leadership, and sharp shooting—anchored by Stephen Curry and Draymond Green at the point guard and center positions. In the wake of a relatively quiet offseason with limited incoming moves beyond draft acquisitions and a key trade exception, the Warriors’ projected primary unit seems poised to feature Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. This quintet is the most frequently cited in recent scouting reports and analysis of Golden State’s depth chart AS USA+1SI+1.
Stephen Curry, now 37, remains the undisputed leader of the squad. His salary makes up over 38 % of the Warriors’ cap, and while age is a concern, his impact on both ends of the floor continues to be transformative. Curry’s presence ensures that wherever he plays, the offense flows around his gravity and playmaking, with spot-up shooters surrounding him to maximize spacing and efficiency SpotracSpotrac.
At shooting guard, top contenders include Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley and various outlets forecast Podziemski starting alongside Curry, positing that the rookie’s defensive growth and three-level scoring make him a logical complement SI. Podziemski, drafted in 2023, has shown flashes of elite rookie production, including historic games with stat lines reminiscent of a young Curry Wikipedia. Meanwhile, Buddy Hield, signed in a six-team trade in 2024, averaged over 11 points per game last season and delivered a record-setting Game 7 performance from three-point range in the playoffs Wikipedia+6Wikipedia+6SI+6. Most projections lean more heavily toward Podziemski in the starter role, though Hield’s shooting guarantees minutes as a deadly rotation piece.
Jimmy Butler, acquired midseason during 2024–25, brings elite-level two-way play and secondary ball‑handling to the small forward slot. Analysts emphasize his ability to relieve playmaking pressure on Curry, deliver perimeter toughness, and contribute as a secondary initiator in late-clock situations sfchronicle.com. His experience, durability, and fit in Steve Kerr’s system make Butler not only a starter in theory, but a foundational piece for executively constructed Spurs seeking a long championship run sfchronicle.comsfchronicle.com.
At power forward many projections list Jonathan Kuminga, though speculation on his future is fluid. Some analysis places Butler at the four, but others expect Butler to remain at small forward with Kuminga stepping in, provided he remains with the team. Rumors are active around Kuminga’s restricted free agency; offers from Phoenix and Sacramento are under consideration—but the Warriors have largely balked, valuing roster flexibility over long-term deals for Kuminga sfchronicle.com+2sbnation.com+2goldenstateofmind.com+2. If Kuminga is moved, the likely starter at the four becomes Jimmy Butler. For now, however, most sources still slot Butler as the SF and Kuminga as the PF when healthy and available fansided.comAS USA.
At center, Draymond Green continues to anchor the defense. He is one of only two constants expected to return in the starting lineup from the previous championship cores (the other being Curry) betcalifornia.comespn.com. Despite being 35 and in the final year of his extension eligibility, Green remains the emotional and strategic pole around which the defense pivots. His steep contract—over $25 million—reflects the franchise’s enduring belief in his leadership, versatility, and on‑court impact SpotracSpotrac.
This projected starting five—Curry, Podziemski, Hield (or Podz if counting SG fully), Butler, and Green—reflects a best‑case scenario based on contract structure, performance, and team needs. Several draft‑related additions offer rotation depth: Will Richard, acquired at No. 56 in the 2025 draft, brings guard depth; Quinten Post, a second‑round pick in 2024, is ascending into backup minutes at center; Trayce Jackson‑Davis offers a stretch‑five option; and Gui Santos adds wing versatility off the bench Spotrac+2AS USA+2Wikipedia+2. Looney’s departure to New Orleans leaves the frontcourt thinner, making Post and Jackson‑Davis more important for bench rotation even if they don’t crack the starting unit regularly AS USAclutchpoints.com.
Financially, the Warriors are constrained by nearly $170 million in committed salaries, with Curry, Butler, Green, Moody, Hield, and Podziemski taking up nearly their entire cap. The midseason acquisition of Butler, plus the large contracts for Curry and Green, leave little room for splash signings—but trade exceptions and selective second‑round draft picks allow limited flexibility for supplementary depth moves sfchronicle.comSpotracgoldenstateofmind.com. GM Mike Dunleavy stressed the need to improve size, shooting, and athleticism around the core and remains open to bold additions—rumors have circulated concerning pursuits of Al Horford, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Derrick White, but none have materialized yet sfchronicle.com.
If Kuminga departs before the season via sign‑and‑trade, analysts expect Butler to shift back to PF and Hield or Podziemski to slide into a wing slot with someone like Moses Moody or Gui stepping in to the rotation mix at SG/SF. Dabblers on Reddit and fan sites suggest Moody and Kuminga could move in and out of starting roles; one popular fan‑predicted lineup was Curry, Melton, Wiggins, Draymond, and TJD—but that is increasingly unlikely given Houward’s inactivity and roster direction reddit.comreddit.com.
As things currently stand, with no major free agent signings other than late draft picks, the Warriors’ projected rotation looks something like: Curry running point, Podziemski at two, Hield mixing in (6th man role), Butler at small forward, Draymond at center or possibly shifted into the five, with Kuminga and Gui as primary backups at forward, and Jackson‑Davis and Quinten Post emerging behind the arc. Off the bench, Moses Moody, Will Richard, and Taran Armstrong (a two-way guard signed mid‑season) will provide spot minutes
Ever mindful of championship contention in the Curry‑Butler‑Green window, coach Steve Kerr and the front office seem resigned to a roster built more on honed system chemistry than splash acquisitions. Owner Joe Lacob has indicated a willingness to spend if the right opportunity arises—but for now prudent fiscal control paired with development of second‑round rookies yields the anticipated continuity of the core group sfchronicle.com.
In summary, unless a blockbuster trade or surprise free agent appears, Golden State’s starting lineup for 2025–26 will most likely feature Stephen Curry at point guard; Brandin Podziemski at shooting guard; Jimmy Butler at small forward; Jonathan Kuminga (if retained) at power forward—or Butler sliding over if Kuminga departs—and Draymond Green anchoring center. That group emphasizes shooting, leadership, and two‑way cohesion around their legendary nucleus. With supporting depth from young players like Moses Moody, Gui Santos, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson‑Davis, and Will Richard, the Warriors aim to remain competitive in the deep Western Conference while managing cap realities and positioning for opportunistic roster upgrades down the line.
