The Golden State Warriors are probably the last known dynasty the NBA has seen growing in the past decade. However, the Dubs aren’t the same indomitable force they once were. While the franchise’s past dominance saw them reach five consecutive Finals and secure a post-glory years title in 2022, Steve Kerr, in a recent interaction, went candid about the physical and competitive shift in the roster.
Kerr appeared on the “Tom Tolbert Show” and reflected on how the dynamics within the Warriors have been shifting. Addressing the team’s current standing, Kerr remarked:
“We know we’re not where we were five or six years ago, but we did win a championship three years ago. That felt like a post-glory years title. We weren’t quite ourselves, but we were good enough to give ourselves a swing at the plate.”
Kerr’s words highlight a dynasty that is transitioning from a perennial juggernaut to a veteran group fighting to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving Western Conference.
The primary reason the Warriors find themselves trailing the league’s elite tier is the rise of young and talent-rich rosters like the OKC Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. Following a lopsided 131-94 loss to OKC at the start of 2026, Kerr emphasized that the gap between his aging core and these ascending programs is widening. He warned fans against expecting the same year-to-year dominance the Warriors once enjoyed.
“I just don’t want anybody to think that we’re all disillusioned and we’re thinking, ‘Hey, we should be competing for titles year in and year out with San Antonio and Oklahoma City the next few years.’ That’s not realistic,” he added.
This shift in hierarchy is driven by the explosive development of stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama, who have positioned their teams as the long-term future of the league.
What Lies for the Warriors in the Future?
Looking ahead, the Warriors’ path involves accepting their new role as underdogs rather than heavyweights. On the same show, Kerr noted that while the team still possesses the sun of their solar system in Stephen Curry, they can no longer match the sheer depth and new legs of the West’s new leaders.
The coaching staff is now focused on finding small windows of opportunity rather than expecting a clear path to the Finals. As Kerr put it when describing the inevitability of the new generation taking over, he also mentioned that the Warriors won’t lag in allowing themselves to perform this season.
However, he maintained that the era of being the clear favorite is over. Teams like OKC and San Antonio have built championship cores, designed for long-term sustainability that the Warriors currently lack.
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