The Golden State Warriors just made a major move to keep their leadership in place. But the former NBA champion,  Kendrick Perkins, is not convinced it changes their trajectory. 

The organization brought some stability to the table on May 10, 2026, by reaching a new deal with Steve Kerr. The head coach agreed to a two-year extension that will keep him with the team through the 2027-28 season.

Perkins shared his thoughts during a segment on ESPN’s SportsCenter on 10th May, 2026. He said the Warriors were “not built to win a championship,” although Kerr had now agreed to continue with the team.

Perkins also made it clear that a great coach is important, but it does not fix the holes in the current roster. 

The numbers from the current season seem to back up his concerns. The Warriors finished the 2025-26 season with a disappointing 37-45 record, placing them in the 10th seed in the Western Conference. 

Their season ended on April 17, 2026, with a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in tournament. It was the second time in just 3 years that the team failed even to make the first round of the playoffs.

Stephen Curry turned 38 during the season, and while he is still a star, the help around him is fading. Draymond Green is also in his mid-30s, and the team struggled with injuries throughout the year. 

The Warriors now have a huge payroll and strict salary cap rules that make it very hard to sign new impact players. They are trying to chase one more trophy with the same group, but the rest of the NBA has gotten younger and faster. 

The front office has shown they are committed to the people who built their legacy, but the results on the court are concerning.

Steve Kerr Extension Keeps Warriors Together, but Questions Remain

The decline of the Warriors has been a slow process since their last title in the 2021-22 season. That year, they went 53-29 and looked like they would stay at the top forever. But since lifting that trophy four years ago, the team has struggled to maintain that same dominance. 

The cracks started to show in 2022-23 when they lost to the Lakers in the semifinals after a 44-38 season. The 2023-24 season was even worse, as they missed the playoffs after a play-in loss. 

They came back stronger in 2024-25, but were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves. This latest 37-45 season is their worst record in years. 

With the 2026 NBA Draft and free agency approaching, the team needs to find a way to add better shooting balance. They have to decide if they are willing to break up the "old guard" to save Curry’s final prime years. 

Does Golden State have enough left to win one more title, or is Perkins right? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Souvik Roy