The 2024–25 season tested the Warriors like never before. Injuries, trade moves, and roster shifts threatened their rhythm, but Golden State still managed a strong finish, proving it remains one of the NBA’s most dangerous teams. That resilience has become the hallmark of the post-Durant era; an ability to adapt under pressure and find winning combinations. What makes this season different, though, is that the fight to preserve those combinations isn’t just happening on the floor—it’s also playing out in who Curry wants beside him to anchor the defense.

But elite marks are fragile. One misstep in rotations or personnel decisions could quickly undermine months of careful defensive work. Maintaining a league-high standard requires precision, discipline, and the right mix of players on the floor, something the Warriors have learned the hard way, especially this season.

According to Cleaning the Glass, Golden State’s defense ranks in the 99th percentile when key pieces like Jimmy Butler III and Gary Payton II are on the floor. That defensive dominance powered the team to a 23-8 stretch post-trade deadline with the third-best net rating in the league. This statistical benchmark could define this Warriors group if they can preserve it over a full season.

Maintaining elite defense doesn’t demand perfection on offense. After Butler arrived, the Warriors posted a solid 113.9 points per 100 possessions without Curry—good enough to stay competitive while the defense carried the team. The system is built to thrive offensively with Curry, so holding steady offensively is sufficient to preserve overall performance in his absence.

Another key factor is the consistency of defensive execution. In the Butler-without-Curry minutes, the Warriors’ defense remained elite, showing that rotations, communication, and matchups must all be executed flawlessly. Depth and player fit are vital to prevent lapses that could threaten the team’s historic metrics. It’s the little details—closeouts, weak-side help, box-outs—that ultimately separate the Warriors from the middle of the pack.

Maintaining that precision isn’t just about the Xs and Os; it’s also about personnel decisions in the offseason, and that’s where Curry’s influence begins to play a critical role. The margin for error is razor-thin, which makes every roster choice feel decisive.

Curry’s Push for Gary Payton II and Maintaining Elite Defense

Beyond his scoring and playmaking, Stephen Curry is actively influencing roster decisions to protect the Warriors’ defensive blueprint. His push to bring back Gary Payton II underscores how seriously the team values continuity and elite defensive performance. Payton brings versatility, elite perimeter defense, and a familiarity that minimizes the adjustment curve. For Curry, it’s not simply about roster depth, but about protecting the team’s winning DNA.

That continuity matters. Payton was crucial during the 2022 championship run and made pivotal contributions throughout the 2024–25 playoffs, even as a rotation piece in Game 3 vs. Houston, where his defensive shifts helped refocus Golden State’s momentum. It’s that ability to swing games in subtle ways, through hustle plays, pressure defense, and tone-setting, that keeps Payton so valuable to the Warriors’ formula. His game usually shows up in highlight reels for his athletic dunks, but inside the locker room, his value is well understood.

Curry has been vocal about his belief in surrounding stars with trusted defenders. In past interviews, he’s emphasized the importance of players who know the system and can keep the Warriors connected on that end. Payton fits that description better than most, having mastered Golden State’s switching principles and communication-heavy scheme. For Curry, pushing to keep Payton isn’t just about one roster move, but maintaining the cultural and structural fabric that has sustained the Warriors across multiple title windows.

Front office voices echo this commitment. GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and coach Steve Kerr have both underscored the value of returning key defenders like Payton, calling them valuable both on the court and in preserving team identity in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle. Their alignment with Curry’s advocacy makes Payton’s return less of a rumor and more of an organizational priority, signaling a teamwide push to keep the defensive framework intact.