Alex Caruso sees Warriors as threat to Thunder in upcoming 2025-26 season
If anybody knows what it's like to be the reigning champion, it's Alex Caruso. Continuing to enjoy his summer before training camp kicks off in two months, the 31-year-old talked about OKC's repeat aspirations with an "NBC Sports Bay Area & California" show at a golf course.
The last team to repeat as NBA champions was the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Those were Kevin Durant's first two years with the franchise. Paired with Stephen Curry, they were unstoppable and could be written in Sharpie in September that they were going to cruise their way to multiple titles.
Since then, there's been a new NBA champion every year. If anybody is built to break that trend, it's the Thunder. They return the same roster minus some changes at the bottom of the depth chart. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has cemented himself as arguably the best player in the league.
One team the Thunder might need to beat to inch closer to a second Larry O'Brien trophy is the Warriors. The veteran squad might've lost in Round 2 last year, but Curry remains one of the league's best players. Draymond Green was in DPOY conversations. And Jimmy Butler rejuvenated the franchise and will be Curry's last co-star.
The Curry-Green-Butler trio might be in their mid-30s, but they have the pedigree and talent to battle with the Thunder. Caruso broke down how the Warriors' star trio is enough to make any team take them seriously — even with questionable depth and ugly negotiations with Jonathan Kuminga.
"For the Warriors, it just comes down to if they can get Steph healthy. That's the big deciding factor. If he's healthy, you'll always have a chance to win a playoff series. Him and Draymond obviously have so much experience," Caruso said. "Then Jimmy is Jimmy. Everybody knows. I don't think he was particularly 100% healthy in those playoffs either. Having those guys healthy is a big deal."
The Thunder didn't get a chance to face the Warriors in the playoffs, but they're always in the conversation as a team that could give them a challenge. Every time they square off in the regular season, you always see a show as Gilgeous-Alexander and Curry try to lead their team.
Maybe other teams are ahead of the Warriors in terms of toughest challenge, but you can't sleep on a team that's done it before. Even with their old age and inconsistent role players.
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