NBA Hall of Famer Predicts Golden State Warriors’ Return to NBA Championship Battle Next Season

The Golden State Warriors were the team to beat for five consecutive years, where they made it to the finals each time. During this time, the Dubs won three rings and obliterated their opponents each time. However, the organization missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

The Warriors finished the season with an NBA-worst 15-50 record. This was courtesy of the injuries to the splash brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. While Thompson missed the entire season, Curry played only five games while recovering from injuries.

Another way to look at this would be to see this as a blessing in disguise for the Warriors. Their superstars are well-rested, and they landed the #2 pick after this devastating season. NBA legend Gary Payton believes the Warriors will be in good shape once the 2020-21 season begins. He said:

“They are not going to be the championship team that they were, but they are going to be good. They are going to be real good. You can’t always take away Klay and Steph Curry — a healthy duo who can shoot the basketball and keep you in games. Now, what they have to do is put their other pieces around them. If Draymond comes back to be the Draymond of three years ago, they will be a pretty good team and contend with anybody in the West.

“Now, we got to talk the other guys, the Wiggins and these guys. They got the No. 2 pick. What are they going to do with that? Are they going to bring somebody in or are they going to get a veteran? Everybody is speculating Giannis, where is he going to go? They are going to try and do that. I think with Klay and Steph Curry, they are a team that has to be reckoned with because those are two great players.”

How good will the Golden State Warriors be next season?

As long as Steph and Klay play at an elite level, the Warriors could be in contention to win the NBA championship. But as Gary Payton pointed out, the Western Conference has changed since the Dubs last won it.

The Lakers have added LeBron James and Anthony Davis to bolster their championship hopes. From their end, the Clippers recruited Kawhi Leonard and Paul George because they want to win their first-ever championship in franchise history.

Teams like the Nuggets and Utah Jazz have also been mesmerizing with young superstars such as Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, and Donovan Mitchell. All things considered, the Warriors will have their hands full from day one of the upcoming season.

What do you think? Can the Warriors compete for the NBA title next season? Or will they struggle to return to stardom?