Golden State is on the verge of making NBA history this season, as the franchise is expected to field a starting lineup with four players who are at least 35 years old – something no other team has ever done.
As Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle notes, the Warriors’ unique roster construction places added responsibility on head coach Steve Kerr to carefully manage minutes in order to reduce the risk of injuries and maintain freshness for the postseason.
The projected starting five features 39-year-old Al Horford alongside Stephen Curry, now 37, Jimmy Butler at 36, and Draymond Green, who just turned 35.
Even among the reserves, age and mileage are factors: both Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield will celebrate their 33rd birthdays during the season.
That reality underscores the importance of pacing, something Curry himself emphasized when reflecting on how exhausting last year’s run became.
“We don’t want to be in a position where you’re chasing (a playoff berth) down the stretch of the season,” Curry said. “It felt like every game was a playoff game for two straight months and then you transition into a very tough seven-game series and then you’re 48 hours from a round two, Game 1. It was a very condensed high level of basketball.”
For Kerr and the Warriors, the challenge is clear: balance the need to stay competitive in the regular season while preserving the health and energy of their veteran-heavy core for the grueling playoff schedule ahead.
Warriors Notes: Seth Curry, Injury Risks, Butler, Jackson-Davis, Podziemski https://t.co/slcQc95Ol8 pic.twitter.com/O9yk67pE6L
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 5, 2025
