The pressure keeps rising around the bay.
This week, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr publicly shut down tanking speculation after Stephen Curry was ruled out through All-Star Weekend with runner’s knee.
Curry’s absence comes at an uncomfortable time. Despite being selected as a Western Conference All-Star starter, the face of the franchise will spend the break rehabbing instead of headlining. The Warriors enter the pause sitting 8th in the West at 29-25, a position that keeps them alive but leaves no room for drifting.
Injuries have reshaped the season’s flow. Curry is not expected back until after the break. Veterans like Draymond Green and Al Horford have required cautious workload management, while newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis continues to manage Achilles tendinopathy and a flare-up of POTS. For Kerr, nightly decisions are now driven by availability rather than preference.
“We’re desperately trying to win not only each game, but put ourselves in position to be healthy for the playoffs…
Inside Steve Kerr’s response to the tanking debate
That backdrop fueled the noise. Around the league, tanking conversations have grown louder as teams slip in the standings or pivot toward long-term development. Golden State’s uneven stretch, combined with Curry’s injury, placed the Warriors squarely in that discussion.
Kerr addressed it directly.
Speaking to reporters before the team’s latest game, he pushed back firmly. “We’re desperately trying to win not only each game, but put ourselves in position to be healthy for the playoffs,” Kerr said. The message was clear: rest is about protecting results, not abandoning them.
A bigger NBA conversation is brewing
Kerr also acknowledged that this is not just a Warriors issue. Across the NBA, injuries, rebuilds, and flattened lottery odds have blurred competitive lines. Teams like the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards have faced criticism for late-game decisions that appeared disconnected from winning, drawing scrutiny from analysts and fans.
“A lot of teams are – injuries, starting rebuilds, that sort of thing… I know the league is really concerned about it, as they should be. It’s not good for the fans and the league itself. And they’re considering everything a really tough issue…
The league office is paying attention. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has previously stated that intentional losing damages fan trust and competitive integrity, even after the league adjusted lottery odds to discourage tanking. The concern now is perception as much as policy.
The Warriors’ margin for error is gone
For Golden State, the distinction is crucial. This is not a rebuilding roster chasing draft position. It is a veteran core trying to remain relevant in a tightly packed conference. Compared to recent championship seasons, the Warriors now operate with thinner depth and far less tolerance for missed time.
The coming weeks will test that balance. Curry’s reevaluation after the All-Star break will shape the stretch run, and every win before then carries added weight. Kerr’s stance leaves little ambiguity: the Warriors are still playing for the postseason, even if the path has narrowed.
This article is based on Steve Kerr’s pregame media availability, official injury reports, NBA standings data, and publicly reported league statements regarding tanking and competitive integrity.
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