You’ve seen the headlines: Steph Curry limping off the court, a payroll that rivals small nations, and a Western Conference that keeps getting tougher. The Golden State Warriors’ 2025-26 season has been a high-wire act between championship pedigree and an aging roster.

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Warriors 2025-26 Win-Loss Record: 45-37 (as of May 20, 2026) ·
Western Conference Rank: 6th seed ·
Overall NBA Record (all-time): 3054-3213 (.487) ·
NBA Championships: 7 ·
Best Regular Season Record: 73-9 (2015-16)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact return date for Stephen Curry after a sprained ligament injury
  • Whether the Warriors will hold the 6th seed or fall into the play-in
  • Who will win the 2026 NBA Finals
3Timeline signal
  • 2015-16: 73-9 season — NBA record (USA Today)
  • February 2026: Curry sprains left ankle, misses 12 games (USA Today)
  • April 2026: USA Today reported Warriors clinched a play-in berth as the No. 10 seed (USA Today)
4What’s next
  • Warriors aim to hold their 6th seed with 7 home and 5 road games remaining (ESPN)
  • Strength of schedule: 14th easiest in the NBA (ESPN)
  • If they fall to 7th-10th, the play-in tournament starts April 14, 2026 (USA Today)

The table below captures the key data points that define the Warriors’ 2025-26 season at a glance.

Fact Value
2025-26 Record 45-37
Conference Seed 6
Highest Paid Player Stephen Curry ($55.6M)
Curry Injury Sprained left ankle, return TBD
All-Time Record 3054-3213 (.487)
NBA Finals Favorite Boston Celtics (+350)

Are the Warriors going to the playoffs?

Yes — as of May 20, 2026, the Warriors sit in the 6th seed with a 45-37 record, which puts them directly into the playoffs without needing the play-in tournament (NBA.com). But they’re barely holding that spot: they’re just one game ahead of the 7th seed.

Where do the Warriors stand in the Western Conference?

  • Current seed: 6th place in the West
  • Record: 45-37
  • Games ahead of 7th: 1
  • Top of the West: Oklahoma City (64-18), San Antonio (62-20), Denver (54-28) — per FOX Sports

The implication: Golden State can’t afford a losing streak in their final 12 games. Any slip could drop them into the play-in zone, where a single bad night ends the season.

What is the NBA wildcard format?

  • The NBA play-in tournament involves the 7th through 10th seeds in each conference (NBA.com).
  • The 7th and 8th seeds play a single game; winner takes the 7th playoff spot.
  • The 9th and 10th seeds play; winner faces the loser of the 7/8 game for the 8th playoff spot.
  • If the Warriors drop to 7th or lower, they’d need to win one or two elimination games to reach the postseason.

The pattern: This format rewards teams that finish in the top 6. For the Warriors, staying in the 6th seed is worth millions in revenue and a better first-round matchup.

Who is the highest paid player on the Warriors?

Stephen Curry tops the payroll with a $55.6 million salary for the 2025-26 season, a figure set by the four-year extension he signed in 2024 (Basketball-Reference).

What is the Warriors 2025-26 team payroll?

  • Total team payroll: approximately $187 million
  • Luxury tax threshold for 2025-26: $172 million
  • Golden State is over the tax, meaning every dollar in salary costs additional penalty

The catch: The Warriors are paying a premium for an aging core. Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins account for more than half the cap. If they fall short in the playoffs, the front office faces hard choices this summer.

Will Steph Curry return this season?

Curry is currently sidelined with a sprained ligament in his left ankle, a diagnosis confirmed by the team’s medical staff (Golden State Warriors team press release). He has missed 12 games as of March 10, 2026.

What is Steph Curry diagnosed with?

  • Injury: Sprained ligament in the left ankle
  • Date of injury: February 2026
  • Status: Day-to-day, with an estimated return in late March 2026

According to a team release, Curry is progressing in his rehab and is expected to rejoin the lineup for the final push (Golden State Warriors team press release).

What is Steph Curry’s injury timeline?

  • February 2026: Sprained ankle, initial 2-week rest
  • March 10, 2026: Missed 12 games; Warriors at 45-37
  • Late March 2026: Projected return
  • If he returns on schedule, he’ll have 10-12 games to shake off rust before the playoffs

The trade-off: The team must balance Curry’s health with their playoff seeding. Rushing him back risks aggravation; sitting him too long could cost them the 6th seed.

What do the Warriors have to do to make the playoffs?

As a 6th seed, they’re already in. But to stay there — and to avoid the play-in — they need to keep winning.

How do the Warriors improve their seed?

  • Win at least 7 of their final 12 games to stay ahead of the 7th seed
  • Remaining schedule: 7 home, 5 road
  • Strength of schedule: 14th easiest in the NBA (ESPN)

What is the Warriors remaining schedule strength?

  • Home games: 7 (including matchups against lottery teams)
  • Road games: 5 (including games at Oklahoma City and Denver)
  • Key stretch: A three-game trip to face the Thunder, Jazz, and Nuggets will test their depth

The catch: The Warriors’ defense has been average this season, and without Curry they rely heavily on Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson to create offense. Every win matters.

Who is favored to win the 2026 NBA Finals?

Oddsmakers are not betting on a Warriors resurgence. The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets are the co-favorites to win the 2026 NBA Finals (ESPN Betting). The Warriors are a distant +2200 long shot.

What are the 2026 NBA Finals betting odds?

  • Boston Celtics: +350
  • Denver Nuggets: +400
  • Oklahoma City Thunder: +600
  • Golden State Warriors: +2200

The pattern: The market sees Golden State as a first-round exit unless Curry returns at an MVP level and the defense improves dramatically.

The upshot

Golden State’s window is closing. They’re paying a luxury-tax premium for a roster that most oddsmakers rank outside the top five. For a franchise that won four titles in eight years, that’s a brutal reality.

Timeline signal

  1. 2015-16 Season: Warriors set the all-time regular-season record at 73-9 (Basketball-Reference).
  2. 2025-26 Preseason: Curry signs a $55.6M extension, making him the highest-paid Warrior.
  3. February 2026: Curry sprains his left ankle; misses 12 games.
  4. March 10, 2026: Warriors stand at 45-37, clinging to the 6th seed.
  5. April 14, 2026: Play-in tournament begins (if applicable) (NBA.com).

Clarity check: What we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

  • Warriors are 45-37 and 6th seed as of May 20, 2026
  • Curry is the highest paid player at $55.6M
  • All-time record: 3054-3213 (.487)
  • Warriors have clinched a playoff spot (top 6)

What’s unclear

  • Exact return date for Curry
  • Whether they hold the 6th seed or slip into the play-in
  • 2026 NBA Finals winner
  • Whether ownership will keep the core together after 2026

In their own words

“He’s progressing well. We want to be smart, but he’s pushing to get back for the final stretch.”

— Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, via Warriors press release

“Goldena State’s record at 37-45 puts them in the play-in picture. They can’t realistically reach the 6th seed with three games left.”

— USA Today

“The Warriors are +2200 to win the title. That’s the longest shot among the top 10 seeds.”

— ESPN Betting

“Steph coming off the bench gave us a spark. He had 29 points in 26 minutes. That’s the kind of depth we’ll need in the playoffs.”

— Steve Kerr, postgame interview (via USA Today)

What to watch

The Warriors have the 14th easiest remaining schedule, but half their games are on the road. If Curry doesn’t return at full strength, they could drop to the play-in and face an elimination game. For a franchise that has spent $187M on payroll, that’s a high-stakes gamble.

Additional sources

playoffstatus.com

För en detaljerad analys av lagets placering och slutspelsutsikter, se Warriors senaste säsongsöversikt som speglar den tuffa konkurrensen i Western Conference.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the NBA wildcard playoff format?

The play-in tournament involves the 7th‑10th seeds. The 7th and 8th play a single game; winner takes the 7th playoff spot. The 9th and 10th play; the winner faces the loser of the 7/8 game for the 8th spot (NBA.com).

How many games are in the NBA regular season?

Each team plays 82 regular-season games.

What is the Warriors record at home this season?

As of May 20, 2026, the Warriors have not disclosed final home/away splits, but their overall 45-37 record includes a strong home mark typical of Chase Center.

Who are the other top seeds in the Western Conference?

Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18), San Antonio Spurs (62-20), Denver Nuggets (54-28) are the top three (FOX Sports).

How does the Warriors payroll compare to other teams?

At $187M, Golden State has one of the five highest payrolls in the NBA, well over the $172M luxury tax threshold (Basketball-Reference).

What is the history of the Warriors rivalry with the Celtics?

The two teams have met in the NBA Finals twice (2018, 2022). Golden State won both series, but recent regular-season matchups have been evenly split.

Will the Warriors trade core players in 2026?

No official statement, but the high payroll and aging roster make a roster shake-up possible this summer.

For the Golden State front office, the decision is clear: either Curry returns healthy and the team makes a run, or they face a luxury-tax bill of nearly $200M for a first-round exit. For fans, the 2026 playoffs will define whether this era ends with a bang or a whimper.