The Athletic has revealed their NBA Summer power rankings. Even though they haven’t made any free agent moves yet and lost Kevon Looney, our Warriors are still ranked ninth.
Here’s an in‑depth look (approaching about two thousand words in length) at what it means that The Athletic’s latest NBA Summer power rankings slot the Warriors at ninth, even though they haven’t made any free agent additions yet beyond losing Kevon Looney, and what their offseason outlook looks like after a pivotal summer:
According to The Athletic’s summer power rankings (authored by their NBA writers in mid‑July 2025), the Golden State Warriors are ranked ninth overall heading into the 2025‑26 season. This is notable because the roster at that point had seen virtually no new signings or trades, and they had just lost longtime center Kevon Looney in free agency. Despite that, the Dubs remain in the top ten of projected team strength.
At a glance, the broader league landscape shows a West that has shuffled dramatically: Oklahoma City leads after winning their first NBA title, with Houston climbing after acquiring Kevin Durant in a massive seven‑team trade. Cleveland holds strong at third, while the Knicks and Nuggets follow. The Lakers, Clippers and Magic make up much of the top ten, placing the Warriors around the ninth slot despite inactivity (ESPN.com).
The context for Golden State’s ninth‑place slot is rooted in what carries over from last season: even though they’re entering the offseason without having added any new free agents, they retained their core in Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, both of whom remain high‑impact players. That kind of star power helps keep them among contenders despite uncertainty in depth and size up front (New York Post).
Losing Kevon Looney, who signed elsewhere in free agency, is significant because he’d been the Warriors’ key backup and spot starter at center throughout their recent decade of success. Looney was a key defensive anchor, familiar with Steve Kerr’s switching system. His departure creates a noticeable void, and one that has partly defined their roster uncertainty for the summer (Wikipedia).
Despite no new free agent acquisitions, The Athletic’s writers still feel that Golden State’s established system and proven coaching provide a foundation. Curry can still lead them as an elite scoring force, Draymond remains a disruptive defensive underpinning, and when healthy they’re still capable of game‑shaping performances. That’s why, even amid roster changes and inactivity, they hold onto a top‑10 ranking.
That said, the ninth‑place slot reflects tempered expectations. The loss of Looney and the absence of a major free agent addition mean that analysts view Golden State as less complete than some of the newly reconfigured teams. There’s a sense they’re falling into the “middle tier” of legitimate contenders: dangerous on talent and experience, but without the reinforcement others added over the summer. The Lakers, Clippers, Magic, and others overtook them in the rankings by virtue of active roster upgrades (New York Post, Sportsnaut).
Warriors supporters and observers will note that even ESPN’s off‑season power rankings from last year had them in a similar position—between seventh and ninth—after trading Chris Paul away and losing Klay Thompson. Similar structural questions persisted then about their size up front and durability. Those critics pointed to a lack of rim protection and frontcourt toughness as key off‑season red flags (NBA, Bleacher Report, SI).
Looney’s departure is especially impactful because he was one of the few centers adept at covering multiple matchups, a reliable rebounder and locker room stabilizer. In terms of tangible production and team cohesion, it’s not easy to replace that within the same system. There is some hope in younger players and unproven depth, but no guarantee they can fill that void immediately.
That said, there were moves behind the scenes that may alter plans. Warriors signed Isaiah Mobley to their Summer League roster on July 2, 2025, presumably as insurance given Looney’s exit. Mobley is the brother of NBA player Evan Mobley, and while not guaranteed to be a rotation fixture, he offers a developmental alternative at center (Wikipedia).
Meanwhile, Golden State also restructured the broader league architecture in a monumental trade on July 6, 2025: Kevin Durant, acquired by Houston, is now playing in the Western Conference. That move reverberates across Western power projections and slightly reshuffles the competitive landscape—adding more emphasis on remaining elite teams like Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Thunder and Nuggets (ESPN.com).
So what’s the upshot? Ninth is not a dismissal—it’s a cautious respect. The Warriors remain relevant based on Curry and Green’s continued high-end presence. But in the absence of major free agent additions, and after losing a veteran anchor in Looney, The Athletic’s writers are signaling that the team is no longer as complete as some of their rivals.
Let’s expand on several dimensions to illustrate in more detail what factors influence that assessment:
Offensive continuity and limitations
Stephen Curry remains one of the most prolific shooters and ball‑handlers in the NBA when healthy. His gravity and offensive output carry immense weight in power projections. Draymond Green remains a disruptive orchestrator and defensive general. What’s uncertain is how secondary scoring (after spot-ups and shooters) behaves without a full Klay Thompson return or replacement. Buddy Hield—who joined earlier—helps fill the catch‑and‑shoot role, but the missing defensive impact of Looney and Thompson may constrain late game flexibility (sportingnews.com, cdn.nba.com).
Defensive depth and frontcourt stability
NBA analysts emphasize rim protection, switching versatility, and rebounding. Without Looney, who excelled at those roles in small‑ball and mixed lineups, Golden State lacks an immediate established replacement. Younger options like Mobley or non-rostered players may fill practice reps, but there’s still uncertainty entering training camp. Teams like Lakers and Clippers reinforced much more decisively during free agency or trades—they added known quantities and size to contend at the elite level.
League comparison and offseason upgrades
Houston’s acquisition of Durant vaulted them to No. 2, according to The Athletic. The Knicks hired Mike Brown, added Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, pushing them up. Clippers added Brook Lopez, Lakers bring in Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton. Orlando traded for Desmond Bane using four first-round picks. Minnesota re-signed key role players. All these teams gained traction during summer activity; Golden State’s lack of moves means they effectively took a step back in relative terms. Ninth reflects that regression (New York Post, Sportsnaut, sportingnews.com).
Legacy context and league-wide narrative
Golden State’s dynastic run came with four NBA titles since 2015. Writers tend to weigh that pedigree in off‑season rankings, particularly when core pieces remain together. That reputational boost helps them maintain relevance even amid uncertainty. However, their “slide” reflects an undercurrent: dynasty teams without depth tend to be rated with caution until proven otherwise.
Injury question marks and rotational adjustments
Klay Thompson missed the previous season with a torn ACL; Durant ruptured an Achilles. Though both remain under contract, their availability is uncertain early in the season. That left untested options between are D’Angelo Russell, what development Kuminga or Podziemski make, and role players stepping up. The Athletic’s ranking thus assumes some level of health volatility, while other teams have fuller, fresher rosters at similar positions in the pecking order (ESPN.com, sportingnews.com, espn.in).
Analyst caveats and ranking philosophies
As Reddit users and power‑ranking critics frequently note, publications like The Athletic place a heavy emphasis on recent form and roster changes rather than strict projections. Power rankings are snapshots—not long‑term forecasts. So in the absence of free agency movement—and with roster shedding—earning a top‑10 spot suggests belief that while form may dip, the underlying core remains strong for the short‑term outlook (Reddit, Reddit).
Taken together, ninth is a calibrated ranking: high enough to reflect respect for the core but low enough to adjust for roster inactivity and frontcourt uncertainty.
From here, key junctures for Warriors watchers include:
- Training camp vs. lineup cohesion – Can Curry, Green and returning veterans mesh early with possible replacements? Will the young post players or bench wings step up?
- Injuries and availability of Thompson/Durant/D’Angelo – If they’re delayed returns or limited, frontcourt depth becomes more exposed.
- Potential moves before season tip-off – A surprise trade or signing (perhaps for bigger size or reliable wing defense) could bump the Dubs back into the top five.
- Competitor underperformance – If contenders like Lakers, Clippers or Magic falter, Warriors’ path toward postseason success improves—even if their own summer was quiet.
Advocates will point to the consistency of system, elite star power, and organizational continuity. Critics will underscore the aging core, lack of roster reinforcement, and depleted depth especially in interior defense. Ninth place in any power ranking is not doom; rather, it signals a middle-class of contenders poised for impact, but not favored by consensus in the new season.
Ultimately, Golden State’s preseason ninth-ranking is less about judgment on Curry and Green and more about the context they face: major rivals improved, roster holes remain, and the league shifted around them. It places them in a tier of teams with potential upside—but facing steeper competition than they’ve had for much of their recent run.
In summary, The Athletic’s summer rankings position the Warriors ninth overall based on a mix of respect for their enduring strengths and caution over tangible gaps: no significant offseason moves yet, the loss of Kevon Looney’s defensive impact, uncertainty about returning stars’ health, and improving competition in both conferences. It’s a strategic signal to fans and the team: you’re still relevant—but you’ve got work to do if you’re going to rise back toward the top of the league this coming season.
