In Search of Curry's Fifth Ring, Warriors Defy Time Theory

The Golden State Warriors do not want to waste any more time with Stephen Curry. Aware that the megastar is already 37 years old, they are approaching the new NBA season with great seriousness in player recruitment. One of the pieces of evidence is the arrival of veteran player Al Horford from the Boston Celtics.

Horford, the NBA champion for the 2023-24 season, signed a two-year contract with the Warriors. "I am happy to be playing with him (Curry). There is no need to chase him and compete against him anymore. Being on the same team with him is something special," he stated on Thursday (2/10/2025).

With the Celtics, the Dominican Republic center lost to Curry and his teammates in the 2022 Finals. Two seasons later, Horford returned to the Finals to win his first championship ring. He decided to join the Warriors ahead of the new season after his contract with the Celtics expired.

Horford is already 39 years old. This age has actually entered the retirement phase for NBA players. Nevertheless, the veteran has proven that he is still at the highest level and can compete in the last season. With the Celtics, he was still able to appear in 60 games during the 2024-25 regular season.

He is smart, can defend, and is also a good passer.

His impact was also significant. He started 42 games and played an average of 27.7 minutes. Horford still ranks seventh in minutes on the Celtics, competing with other young players. He averaged 9 points and 6.2 rebounds.

The Warriors have been waiting for a player like Horford for the past few years. Steve Kerr's team has consistently lacked a reliable center. Horford offers a lot, from a wealth of experience, the ability to play multiple positions, and a playstyle that fits perfectly.

Kerr stated that the Warriors' efforts to create more space in the opponent's defense could become easier with Horford's presence. Horford possesses three-point shooting abilities above the standard for NBA big men. His career average shooting accuracy from long range stands at 37.7 percent.

The Warriors, known as a three-point shooting team, will be even more dangerous thanks to Curry. "That's crucial not only because we have a center who can stretch the floor, but because he's Al Horford. He's smart, he can defend, and he's a good passer," Kerr said.

The problem is that Horford is not the only key player for the Warriors who is over 35 years old. The trio of star players from the San Francisco team has also passed the prime age phase, namely Curry (37), Jimmy Butler (36), and Draymond Green (35).

If those four players are featured as starters in the upcoming first match, the Warriors will create a new history. They will become the first NBA team to start with four players aged 35 or older in the opening game.

Curry is very optimistic about going far this season with the combination of this veteran quartet. "We know when everyone is healthy, we can compete with any team in the Western Conference. We feel like we have a good chance to compete (for the title)," said the point guard.

The question is, can these four players stay healthy from the regular season through the playoffs? As is well known, the Warriors lost in the conference semifinals last season to the Minnesota Timberwolves due to injury issues. After leading 1-0, the Warriors lost 4-1 after Curry's injury.

In the first round against the Houston Rockets, the Warriors also experienced a moment of anxious anticipation when Butler fell hard in game two. Fortunately, Butler was able to recover in time and returned to participate at the end of the series. The Warriors survived the onslaught of the young Rockets squad through seven games.

Due to injury issues, Butler (70.2 percent) and Green (74 percent) have had limited availability in regular-season games over the past five seasons. Butler, in particular, hasn't made more than 65 regular-season appearances since the 2016-17 season.

According to Warriors General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr, the team's medical staff will be very cautious with the management of the veteran players' minutes. "That is the purpose of having a deep roster. Certainly, we will miss games without the veteran players, but we will showcase a good rotation," he stated.

The Warriors have a fairly deep squad for the new season. They've brought in several additions at guard, including De'Anthony Melton and Curry's younger brother, Seth. They've also secured contract extensions for young star Jonathan Kuminga and veteran guard Gary Payton II.

Regardless of the quality and depth of the squad, the Warriors are actually going against the trend of championship teams in recent times. In the last three seasons, the average age of championship teams has consistently been no more than 27 years. The Oklahoma City Thunder even won last season as the second youngest team, with an average age of 25.6 years.

The Thunder is bolstered by a trio of young stars, namely Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26), Jalen Williams (24), and Chet Holmgren (23). In comparison to this trio, the age range of the Warriors' quartet is significantly different. Along with this reality, the prospect of a fifth championship ring for Curry seems to be fading. (AP)