Draymond Green Agrees with Steph Curry: The Warriors Are “Very Mid” This Season

The Golden State Warriors have long been a model of excellence in the NBA, known for their dynamic offense, versatile defense, and championship pedigree. But as the 2024-2025 season progresses, the Warriors are finding themselves in a situation they haven’t been accustomed to: mediocrity. The term “very mid” has been used by star players like Steph Curry and Draymond Green to describe the team’s current state—one that’s neither great nor terrible, but far from the championship-contending level that fans and analysts have come to expect.

In an era where expectations are set high due to their past success, admitting to a season of mediocrity is difficult. However, the candid statements from Green and Curry reflect an honest reckoning with the team’s challenges. As much as the Warriors have been dominant in recent years, even they cannot escape the harsh realities of an ever-evolving NBA landscape, aging rosters, and evolving competition.

This article will explore why the Warriors are considered “very mid” this season, analyzing the team’s roster dynamics, injury issues, and performance inconsistencies. Additionally, we’ll take a look at how the team’s challenges could be resolved and what it means for their future trajectory.

The Current State of the Warriors: An Overview

At the time of this article’s writing, the Golden State Warriors find themselves sitting in the middle of the Western Conference standings. They have posted an up-and-down record, with moments of brilliance that showcase their still-potent offense and defense but also stretches of disappointing performances that highlight their flaws.

The Warriors are in a unique position as a team that has been both dominant and highly competitive in the modern NBA. Their 2015-2019 championship run, bolstered by the “Splash Brothers” of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, as well as the multi-faceted Draymond Green, redefined basketball in many ways. The team’s success helped reshape the style of play around the league, with an emphasis on three-point shooting, pace, and ball movement.

However, as they entered the 2024-2025 season, it became evident that things had changed. Curry, now 36 years old, is still playing at an incredibly high level, but age and the wear-and-tear of a long career are starting to show. Thompson, once known as one of the best shooters in the league, has struggled to return to his peak form after his multiple Achilles and ACL injuries. Draymond Green, always the emotional and defensive leader, is facing questions about his role in an evolving team dynamic.

The “Mid” Description: What Does It Mean?

The term “mid” has become a popular slang in modern culture to describe something that is average or unimpressive. It’s a phrase that carries a certain dismissiveness, indicating that something falls short of expectations without necessarily being terrible. When both Draymond Green and Steph Curry openly admitted that the Warriors are “very mid” this season, it was a recognition of their team’s inability to consistently perform at the level that they and their fans have come to expect.

For the Warriors, the “mid” label means that they are stuck in a sort of limbo. They’re not one of the worst teams in the league, but they’re also not one of the best. They’re neither a team that is completely rebuilding nor one that is in full contention for an NBA title. In essence, they’ve found themselves caught between two worlds, with their aging core still trying to find its footing while younger, more athletic teams begin to rise in the standings.

The Aging Core: Curry, Thompson, and Green

One of the most significant factors contributing to the Warriors’ “mid” status is the aging of their iconic trio.

1. Stephen Curry: The heart and soul of the Warriors, Curry remains one of the best players in the league, but even his extraordinary skills can’t prevent the reality of aging. Curry’s shooting remains elite, but he is playing more minutes than ever before and is starting to feel the strain of playing a high-intensity, fast-paced style of basketball for over a decade. While he has had some brilliant performances this season, his ability to carry the team on his shoulders night in and night out is becoming more challenging.
2. Klay Thompson: Once considered the best shooting guard in the NBA, Thompson has struggled to regain his form since returning from major knee and Achilles injuries. His defensive prowess and shooting have diminished in some areas, and his inconsistency on offense has hurt the team. His struggles have led to questions about his future with the Warriors, as he enters the twilight years of his career.
3. Draymond Green: Green’s value to the Warriors transcends his statistics. He is the defensive anchor, the emotional leader, and the ultimate glue guy for the team. However, even Green has been affected by age and wear. His ability to guard the league’s top players and facilitate the Warriors’ offense has diminished slightly, which impacts the team’s overall defensive strategy and offensive flow.

While all three of these players are still highly effective, they are no longer at the peak of their powers. The combination of aging and injury has caught up with them, forcing the Warriors to reimagine their roster and how they can continue to compete for championships in the future.

Injuries and Roster Inconsistencies

Injuries have also played a role in the Warriors’ inability to perform at the level they once did. Curry, Thompson, and Green have all faced various injuries over the past few seasons, and while they have largely been healthy heading into this year, the toll of past injuries has impacted their performance. The Warriors also have a relatively shallow bench, and injuries to key role players have exacerbated the team’s struggles.

The team has relied on younger players like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and the recently acquired Chris Paul to step up. While these players have shown potential, they are still developing and can’t be relied upon to carry the team on a consistent basis. Kuminga has had flashes of brilliance, but he has also been inconsistent, showing the growing pains of a young player trying to find his place in the rotation.

The Warriors have also seen mixed results with their new acquisitions, including Paul, who, while still an elite point guard, doesn’t necessarily fit the Warriors’ typical style of play, which is fast-paced and focused on ball movement. The adjustment period for Paul, along with the need for him to blend seamlessly into the roster, has created further struggles for a team that already has chemistry concerns.

The Western Conference: Rising Competition

The Warriors are also feeling the pressure of an increasingly competitive Western Conference. Teams like the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks have solidified themselves as legitimate threats in the West. Meanwhile, younger teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Sacramento Kings have emerged as strong contenders in the postseason race.

In particular, the Nuggets, led by reigning MVP Nikola Jokić, have been a dominant force in the West, and their depth, balance, and high basketball IQ make them a tough matchup for any team. The Suns, with their new-look roster featuring stars like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, have established themselves as a dangerous team. Even teams that have been in the lottery in recent years, such as the Thunder, have found a way to improve quickly with young talent like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

In this environment, the Warriors’ struggles are magnified. While they can still compete with these teams on any given night, they no longer have the same level of dominance that they once did. The gap between them and other elite teams in the West is growing, and it’s becoming more difficult for the Warriors to stay at the top.

What Does the Future Hold for the Warriors?

The question now is: What can the Warriors do to fix their “mid” status and return to championship contention? The team has a few options moving forward:

1. Development of Younger Players: One of the most obvious paths for the Warriors is to develop their younger players, particularly Kuminga and Moody, who have shown flashes of potential. The team needs to make a concerted effort to allow these players to grow into more significant roles. Additionally, they must integrate Chris Paul more effectively into the offense and defense.
2. Re-evaluating the Roster: The Warriors’ management must assess whether it is time to make significant changes to the roster. Should they look for another star to pair with Curry? Is it time to move on from Klay Thompson or Draymond Green, both of whom have been integral to the Warriors’ success but are aging? Trades could be necessary if the Warriors want to contend again in the near future.
3. Injury Management: Keeping their key players healthy will be crucial. The Warriors cannot afford for Curry, Thompson, or Green to miss extended periods of time. Managing their workloads and ensuring they stay healthy will be key to their postseason success.
4. Adjusting the System: Head coach Steve Kerr may need to adjust his system to reflect the current strengths and weaknesses of the roster. The Warriors can’t play the same fast-paced, three-point heavy style of years past if their personnel doesn’t fit that system. Kerr will need to find ways to maximize the team’s defensive ability while not relying too heavily on their aging stars.