SAN FRANCISCO — If all goes right with the Dubs in 2023-24, the season might have the same energy as the title-winning 2021-22 campaign.
In the summer of 2021, many openly doubted that the Warriors dynasty was over, but then the championship trio of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson went on a run to win their fourth Larry O’Brien trophy.
After the Warriors were bounced in the second round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers, the questions about the dynasty are swirling around the franchise again. During his end-of-season press conference with reporters Tuesday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he expects all three guys to come back next year.
“I expect them back,” Kerr said, “but who the hell knows?”
While Curry is signed through the 2025-26 season, Klay is about to enter the final year of his deal and Draymond holds a $27.6 million player option that he could turn down in order to seek a multiyear deal – with the Warriors or another club.
Curry is 35, Draymond and Klay are 33. The clock is ticking on their careers and the championship window is closing with each passing year. But Kerr thinks the trio will come back motivated in the fall.
“Well, our older guys are obviously the ones who are responsible for the banners that are hanging in there, Draymond, Steph, Klay,” Kerr said. “I know they are determined to come back and play at a high level. I have no doubt that they're going to be prepared and ready to start camp. There will be some energy and maybe a little more of an edge than we started with this year from those guys.”
Kerr also told reporters that the Warriors aren’t a championship contender with Draymond, so he hopes that Green is back.
As for Klay, who had a solid season but up-and-down playoffs, Kerr remains confident.
“I think the biggest thing for Klay is to have a great off-season,” Kerr said. “At 34, 33, I think, with two major injuries behind him, this is a time where he's got to be more prepared than ever for the first day of training camp, not only physically handling the injuries and the strength and conditioning part of everything, but also understanding that as you get older you've got to get better and areas you can improve upon. You can't rely on the same things you could rely on at 28 or 27.”
Related
