San Francisco, California — The Golden State Warriors are entering the 2025-26 season with a lineup experiment that could define their championship hopes, as head coach Steve Kerr tests a combination of Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler III on the court together. Early indications from last season suggest this trio is far from seamless. In 38 minutes of playing time together, the group posted a 97.5 offensive rating, 52.9% true shooting, 122.4 defensive rating, and a –24.9 net rating — numbers that highlight struggles in spacing, scoring efficiency, and overall cohesion.
“Immediately, the spacing was not great, it puts pressure on our offense to really have to execute,” Kerr admitted, acknowledging the challenges of fitting three players without consistent shooting into his motion offense. With defenders collapsing on drives and passing lanes clogged, the offense stagnated, leaving the Warriors searching for answers. For a team that relies heavily on ball movement and perimeter spacing, these struggles cannot be ignored.
Despite the early struggles, Kerr remains undeterred, believing that the addition of Al Horford could be the missing piece to unlock the lineup’s potential. Horford, known for his sharpshooting and veteran savvy, has hit 37.7% of his career three-point attempts and an impressive 40.9% over the past three seasons. His presence on the floor could stretch defenses, opening driving lanes for Kuminga, Butler, and Green while allowing the motion offense to flow more freely.
The vision Kerr is pursuing is ambitious. The goal is to create a lineup that balances defense, playmaking, athleticism, toughness, and shooting. Each player brings a distinct strength: Kuminga offers elite athleticism and energy, Draymond provides exceptional court vision and playmaking, Butler delivers toughness and scoring versatility, and Horford contributes stability, spacing, and leadership. In theory, this combination could give Golden State a uniquely dynamic starting unit capable of challenging any opponent.
However, the challenge remains in execution. Last season’s metrics serve as a stark reminder of the difficulty: when three non-shooters share the floor, spacing collapses, defenders swarm, and the offense struggles to generate rhythm. Kerr will need to carefully orchestrate minutes, positioning, and rotations to balance these complementary skills without repeating past mistakes.
Fans and analysts are watching closely, with some questioning whether this lineup can survive in the modern NBA, where spacing and three-point efficiency dominate. Others argue that Kerr’s reputation as a tactical genius and ability to adapt mid-season could turn this experiment into one of the league’s most potent innovations. If successful, the Warriors could field a unit that combines lockdown defense, explosive athleticism, veteran savvy, and clutch scoring — a nightmare matchup for any team.
As preseason approaches, all eyes will be on Golden State’s court experiments. Can Kerr make this complex mix of personalities and skills gel? Or will the spacing issues and offensive stagnation resurface under the bright lights of the regular season? One thing is certain: this lineup experiment has the potential to define the Warriors’ season — for better or worse.
Leave a Reply