The Warriors’ Skid: Understanding Stephen Curry’s “There’s A Lot Wrong” Statement

In the 2023-24 NBA season, the Golden State Warriors, a franchise historically defined by their dynastic success and offensive brilliance, found themselves struggling in a way that was both surprising and disconcerting. After years of dominance, with four championships in eight seasons (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022), the Warriors were now in a situation where things were not going according to plan. The early season skid—a stretch of inconsistent play and frustrating losses—led to an uncharacteristic statement from the franchise’s cornerstone player, Stephen Curry. When asked about the team’s performance, Curry succinctly summarized the situation by saying, “There’s a lot wrong.”

This statement, while brief, captured the frustration that permeated throughout the Warriors’ organization. For a team that has prided itself on its leadership, chemistry, and shooting prowess, being on the receiving end of multiple losses, particularly against teams they would normally be expected to dominate, was jarring. Curry’s comment serves as a window into the larger struggles facing the Warriors and the internal challenges they needed to address.

The Context of the 2023-24 Warriors

The Golden State Warriors entered the 2023-24 season with high expectations. The previous year had seen them win their fourth championship in eight seasons, securing their place as one of the most dominant dynasties in NBA history. However, the offseason brought a mix of change and continuity. The Warriors made subtle yet important roster changes, but the core of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green remained intact. In theory, the team was still a title contender.

But despite the Warriors’ championship pedigree, the early season revealed cracks in their once invulnerable armor. As the losses mounted, it became clear that the Warriors were no longer the well-oiled machine they once were. The team’s reliance on Curry to create offense, combined with the injury-prone nature of some of their key players, left them vulnerable. The Warriors’ defensive issues were particularly glaring, as they struggled to maintain the same level of intensity and execution that had been their hallmark during their championship runs.

Curry’s comment—”There’s a lot wrong”—was not just an acknowledgment of the team’s performance but an implicit recognition of the internal dynamics that were contributing to their struggles. But what exactly was “wrong” with the Warriors, and how did this unexpected skid come about?

1. The Ageing Core and Injuries

One of the most immediate factors contributing to the Warriors’ struggles in 2023-24 was the age of their core players. Curry, Thompson, and Green were all in their 30s, and while they were still among the most talented players in the league, they were not immune to the physical decline that often accompanies age. Curry, in particular, had been dealing with injuries in recent seasons, including ankle and leg issues that had limited his ability to stay fully healthy.

Klay Thompson, after two serious injuries—an ACL tear in 2019 and an Achilles rupture in 2020—was still trying to regain his previous form. While he showed flashes of his old self, particularly in the 2022 Finals, Thompson had struggled with consistency in 2023-24. His shooting, once automatic, was no longer as lethal as it had been in the past, and his defensive prowess, another cornerstone of the Warriors’ identity, had diminished.

Draymond Green, though still one of the most impactful defenders in the NBA, had also seen his offensive contributions decrease. His scoring remained erratic, and he was less effective as a playmaker compared to his prime years. Green’s outspoken leadership and fiery competitiveness were still valuable, but the Warriors needed more than just his emotional energy. They needed him to produce at a higher level.

These aging stars, while still capable of brilliance, were increasingly reliant on each other to stay healthy and perform at a high level. Injuries to any of the key players, such as Curry’s nagging ankle issues or Thompson’s shooting struggles, had a cascading effect on the team’s performance. The Warriors’ depth, once a hallmark of their success, was also becoming a concern.

2. Defensive Woes

Another significant problem for the Warriors was their defense. Golden State had built its dynasty on elite defense, anchored by Green’s versatility and ability to guard multiple positions, as well as the team’s relentless ball pressure and help defense. However, in the 2023-24 season, this aspect of their game was noticeably weaker. The Warriors allowed opponents to score more easily, particularly in the paint, where their rim protection was lacking.

Green, as the cornerstone of their defense, was often forced to do more than he could handle, as the Warriors’ perimeter defenders struggled to contain opposing offenses. The absence of a reliable rim protector behind him, combined with lapses in their switching defense and rotations, contributed to the team’s defensive inefficiencies. Opposing teams were able to exploit mismatches, and the Warriors were often caught out of position, resulting in easy buckets.

The lack of defensive cohesion also affected the team’s ability to win close games. In clutch moments, when the Warriors needed stops to seal victories, they often faltered. This was in stark contrast to previous seasons, where the Warriors had become known for their ability to clamp down on defense when it mattered most.

3. The Bench and Depth Issues

The Warriors had been a deep team for much of their championship run, but in the 2023-24 season, their bench was often inconsistent. Players like Jordan Poole, who had shown flashes of potential in previous seasons, were now being asked to take on larger roles but had not yet proven to be reliable in that regard. The loss of Poole—who was traded in the offseason—left a gap in the second unit, and the team struggled to find a consistent offensive spark off the bench.

In addition, the Warriors’ reliance on veterans like Andre Iguodala, who was aging and limited in minutes, left them thin in certain areas. The absence of depth at key positions—particularly in the frontcourt—made the Warriors more vulnerable to injuries and forced them to overextend their starters. This overreliance on the aging core, combined with a lack of reliable contributors off the bench, left the Warriors scrambling to find the right balance.

As the season progressed, it became apparent that the Warriors’ front office had not sufficiently addressed the team’s depth issues during the offseason. While the team had some intriguing young players, they were often too raw to contribute at the level required for a team with championship aspirations.

4. The Shift in Play Style and Offensive Struggles

Golden State’s offense had always been built around ball movement, spacing, and off-the-ball movement, all orchestrated by Curry’s incredible shooting and vision. However, the 2023-24 season saw the Warriors struggling to find the same rhythm. The team’s shooting percentages were down across the board, and Curry, despite his individual brilliance, was forced to do too much on his own.

The emergence of the “small ball” style of play, which had been so successful during the Warriors’ championship runs, had now become a double-edged sword. While the team still relied on shooting and spacing, opponents had learned how to counter the Warriors’ motion offense more effectively. The combination of aging players and diminished defensive capabilities made it difficult for Golden State to consistently impose their offensive will on opponents.

Additionally, while the Warriors remained a high-scoring team, their offense had become less efficient in certain stretches of the season. They had difficulty generating high-quality shots when Curry was not on the floor, and their ball movement, which had been a trademark of their style, had become more predictable. The Warriors were forced to rely more heavily on isolation plays and one-on-one creation, which was not the brand of basketball that had led to their success.

5. Internal Tensions and Leadership Dynamics

While Curry’s leadership remained a stabilizing force for the Warriors, there were signs of internal friction within the team. Draymond Green’s volatility had always been part of his character, but his occasional outbursts and the public tensions with teammates and the front office added a layer of uncertainty to the team dynamic. Furthermore, Green’s continued contract uncertainty and the looming question of whether he would stay in Golden State long term contributed to a sense of instability.

Curry, ever the professional, had worked to hold the team together, but it was clear that the Warriors were at a crossroads. Their championship window, once wide open, was now closing. The team’s future success would hinge not just on the performances of the aging stars, but on how well they could navigate internal conflicts and adjust to the changing landscape of the NBA.