You’re probably checking the scores and wondering: is the Golden State Warriors winning lately, or are we witnessing the slow fade of a dynasty?
Honestly, it’s a bit of both. As of January 15, 2026, the Warriors are sitting at a 22-19 record. That puts them at 8th in the Western Conference. They just came off a dominant 119-97 win against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on Tuesday night. It was a weird game. Stephen Curry only scored 7 points on 2-for-9 shooting, but he racked up 11 assists. Jimmy Butler—yeah, he’s a Warrior now—chipped in 16 points.
The vibe in the Bay Area is... complicated.
The Current Vibe: Is the Golden State Warriors Winning Enough?
If you look at the standings, the "winning" part is a toss-up. They are technically a winning team, but they aren't the juggernaut they used to be. The West is a literal bloodbath in 2026. You’ve got Oklahoma City and San Antonio leading the pack, and the Warriors are fighting tooth and nail just to stay out of the play-in tournament.
Winning is relative.
For a team with four rings in the closet, being three games over .500 feels like losing. But if you watched that Portland game, you saw flashes of the old "Strength in Numbers" magic. De’Anthony Melton exploded for 23 points off the bench. Even Gui Santos was a menace, grabbing a career-high four steals.
🔗 Read more: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
But then there's the drama.
The Kuminga Situation Just Blew Up
Today is January 15, 2026. This is a massive day for the front office because it's the first day Jonathan Kuminga is eligible to be traded under his new contract. And guess what? He just requested a trade.
League sources confirmed through Shams Charania that Kuminga wants out. He hasn’t even stepped on the court since December 18. Steve Kerr basically glued him to the bench after some inconsistent play, and at 23 years old, the kid wants to actually play basketball. This is a huge blow to the "bridge to the future" plan that Mike Dunleavy Jr. has been trying to build.
Stephen Curry: Still the Engine, Just Older
Is the Golden State Warriors winning because of Steph? Mostly. Even at 37, the man is averaging 28.1 points per game this season. He’s shooting nearly 39% from three. Those are video game numbers for a guy his age.
But the supporting cast has changed.
💡 You might also like: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
The addition of Jimmy Butler (36 years old) was a "win-now" move that has yielded mixed results. Butler brings that grit and 19.8 points per game, but it's a lot of old legs on the floor at once. Draymond Green is still doing Draymond things—anchoring the defense and screaming at refs—but the athleticism isn't what it was in 2017.
- Record: 22-19
- Conference Standing: 8th in West
- Offensive Rating: 115.5 (16th in NBA)
- Defensive Rating: 113.2 (7th in NBA)
Their defense is actually top-10. That's what's keeping them afloat. They aren't outrunning teams anymore; they're grinding them down.
Injury Hurdles and Roster Shuffles
You can't talk about whether they're winning without mentioning the trainer's room. Seth Curry has been out with sciatic nerve irritation. There were some scary reports about Steph’s back after the Atlanta game, but he played through it against Portland.
The bench is where the real story is. Brandin Podziemski is still a spark plug, and Moses Moody just passed Mike Dunleavy Jr. for 12th on the franchise's all-time three-pointer list. It’s a weird era where the GM’s records are being broken by the guys he’s trying to manage.
Why Most People Get the "Winning" Question Wrong
Social media makes it look like the Warriors are dead every time they lose a road game to the Timberwolves or the Nuggets. But "is the Golden State Warriors winning" depends on your expectations.
📖 Related: What Place Is The Phillies In: The Real Story Behind the NL East Standings
If you expect a 67-win season, they’re failing.
If you expect a team that can still beat anyone in a seven-game series, they’re right on track.
They play the New York Knicks tonight at Chase Center. The Knicks are tough this year, and this game is a massive litmus test. If the Warriors can take down a physical Eastern Conference contender right after the Kuminga trade request drama hits the fan, it’ll prove the locker room is still locked in.
Practical Next Steps for Fans
If you're following the team this month, keep your eyes on the trade deadline on February 5. With Kuminga officially asking out, the Warriors are almost certainly going to be aggressive. Rumors are already swirling about a potential move for Anthony Davis, though that feels like a long shot.
Watch the rotation tonight against the Knicks. If Steve Kerr continues to lean on the veterans, expect the Warriors to stay in that 7th-10th seed range. If they start integrating more of the youth to replace Kuminga's minutes, we might see some growing pains—but a higher ceiling come April.
Check the official NBA standings daily. In the Western Conference, one win can move you from 9th to 6th. It's that tight. The next two weeks against the Hornets, Heat, and Raptors will define whether this season is a chase for a fifth ring or a graceful exit for the greatest trio in basketball history.