Just two years ago, the Golden State Warriors were crowned NBA champions. Now, missing the playoffs entirely seems shocking — but in reality, it had been coming for some time. According to Melbet Login coverage, much of it can be traced back to what they lost along the way. For over a decade, the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green — affectionately known as “the Splash-Dray trio” — formed one of the most successful partnerships in league history, collecting four titles together. But time waits for no one. As these stars aged, their performances inevitably began to decline.

Klay Thompson, plagued by devastating injuries like a torn ACL and Achilles, has struggled to return to form. His stats hit career lows this season, and his 0-for-10 shooting performance against the Kings wasn’t a fluke — it symbolized a broader trend. Draymond Green, though still a savvy defender and playmaker, has seen his offensive threat fade, often left unguarded on the perimeter. Even Steph Curry, though still impressive, is past his peak at age 36. In the do-or-die Play-In clash with the Kings, Curry’s uncharacteristically quiet showing highlighted the burden he’s carrying alone, with teammates offering little support.

Meanwhile, the salaries of Curry, Thompson, and Green push the Warriors close to the league’s salary cap ceiling, with over $40 million paid in luxury tax this season. With limited draft assets and no major flexibility to move their core, the Warriors’ front office has found itself boxed in. This season’s only major addition was veteran Chris Paul, acquired via trade to either support Curry off the bench or share court time with him. But Paul’s ongoing injury concerns — including a hand fracture — limited him to just 58 appearances, further undercutting any hopes of stability.

Add in Andrew Wiggins’ personal absences and Green’s suspensions, and the team’s overall cohesion took major hits. Melbet Login analysts noted that without reliable depth, Golden State was forced to overuse its stars. Curry lacked a dependable backup, and the forward rotation was so thin that Jonathan Kuminga often carried the load alone. Had the Rockets not been too inexperienced, or the Grizzlies not devastated by injuries, the Warriors may not have even made the Play-In — a sobering sign of just how shallow their bench truly was.

Coaching also came under scrutiny. Despite Steve Kerr’s four titles making his position secure, his decisions this season sparked plenty of debate. His handling of young players was particularly questionable. Though Kuminga and his agent pushed for more minutes last summer and eventually got them, other prospects weren’t as lucky. Moses Moody was rarely part of the rotation, and center Trayce Jackson-Davis only cracked the starting lineup near the end of the season despite earlier flashes of brilliance. Kerr admitted that giving young players too much responsibility might upset veterans, revealing a locker room dynamic he couldn’t fully control.

This tug-of-war created tension — young players felt they weren’t rewarded for good play, while veterans resisted yielding space. The atmosphere became oddly fragile, and the team spiraled toward a disappointing end. Compared to younger, faster squads, the Warriors had far less margin for error. Curry’s repeated desire to retire alongside Thompson and Green, while admirable, makes the future even murkier.

Given Curry’s irreplaceable star power and marketability, the Warriors are unlikely to move him — doing so would spark a public relations storm. That leaves two real options. One: re-sign Klay Thompson at a lower price and limit his minutes to avoid stalling the development of younger talent. Two: make bold changes — decline to re-sign Thompson or sign-and-trade him, explore ways to move Green, and effectively clean house while retaining only Curry.

This second path would mark the start of a transition era — a chance to squeeze one last playoff run out of Curry while laying the groundwork for a post-Curry rebuild. As Melbet Login insiders put it, life is often rushed, with little time to pause. The same goes for the NBA. If Golden State insists on clinging to a legacy model of basketball, their darkest days may still lie ahead. But if they dare to evolve, they might just glimpse a light at the end of the tunnel.