Warriors' Season Ends in Play-In Loss, Offseason of Uncertainty Begins

The Golden State Warriors' 2025-26 season concluded with a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament on April 18, 2026. The Suns advanced to the playoffs with the victory.

The loss concluded a season marked by significant injuries to key players and leaves the organization facing numerous decisions regarding player contracts and coaching staff for the upcoming offseason.

Season Conclusion and Game Result

The Warriors entered the play-in tournament after finishing the regular season outside the top six seeds in the Western Conference. In the decisive game, Jalen Green led the Suns with 36 points, while Stephen Curry scored 17 points for the Warriors.

Season Context and Injuries

The Warriors' season was significantly affected by injuries to multiple key players:

Jimmy Butler suffered an ACL tear on January 19.
Stephen Curry subsequently missed 27 games due to a knee injury, returning in early April. Curry acknowledged ongoing knee soreness that he stated would likely impact his remaining playing years.
Moses Moody sustained a knee injury expected to keep him out until approximately the next All-Star break.
Kristaps Porziņģis, acquired before the February trade deadline, played 16 games for the Warriors. He noted he and Curry had limited time to develop chemistry, playing only about 14 minutes together.

Contract and Roster Status for Offseason

The Warriors enter the offseason with several pending contract decisions.

Player Contracts and Options:

Stephen Curry signed a one-year, $62.6 million extension in 2024 and has expressed interest in a further extension.
Draymond Green holds a player option for the 2026-27 season worth $27.7 million.
Jimmy Butler is eligible for a contract extension. A league source indicates the Warriors have told Butler he is part of their plans.
Brandin Podziemski is eligible for an extension this offseason.
De'Anthony Melton has a $3.5 million player option.
Al Horford has a player option worth nearly $6 million.
The Warriors have three players—Moses Moody, Gui Santos, and Will Richard—under contract beyond next season.

Coaching Status:

Head coach Steve Kerr's contract is ending. Kerr signed a two-year extension in 2024.

Statements on Futures with the Team

Steve Kerr:
After the game, Kerr addressed his uncertain contract status.

"I don't know what's going to happen. I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date," he stated.

He added that if it is time for new leadership, he would be "nothing but grateful." Kerr was seen in a post-game huddle with Curry and Green, where he was heard saying, "I don't know what's gonna happen next, but I love you guys to death."

Stephen Curry:
Curry commented on Kerr's future, saying, "I want coach to be happy... He knows how I feel about him." Regarding the post-game huddle, Curry stated, "I was kind of fighting it to be honest... I don't know if that's a signal of anything." On his own career, Curry said he could envision playing "multiple" more seasons and is trying to extend his career as long as possible.

Draymond Green:
Green addressed his future, stating, "I'm not retiring. I still love to play." Regarding his player option, he said, "I hope I've done enough to still be here... But if not, we'll see what it looks like." Both Green and Kerr have previously stated they would like Green to finish his career with the Warriors.

Kristaps Porziņģis:
Porziņģis stated he is open to staying with the Warriors, citing in part his relationship with the team's training staff.

Organizational Context and Strategy

The Warriors won their fourth championship of the Stephen Curry era in 2022. Following a loss in the second round of the 2023 playoffs, the organization was described as entering a three-year window to pursue a fifth championship with Curry under contract.

Regarding roster strategy, reports indicate the Warriors pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo before the February trade deadline. A team source stated the organization does not plan to deal multiple future assets to acquire more veterans. The Warriors have all their future first-round draft picks available for potential trades, and Green's salary could be part of potential trade packages for star players, according to reports.