It’s been a weird year in the Bay. If you’ve been following the Warriors 2024 25 schedule, you know the "vibes" shifted basically the second Klay Thompson put on a Dallas jersey. Honestly, the schedule makers didn't do Steve Kerr many favors early on, but looking at the data, the path to that 48-34 finish was a total rollercoaster that most people didn't see coming when the dates first dropped back in August.
The season officially kicked off on October 23, 2024, at the Moda Center. A road opener in Portland. It was the first time in a decade the Dubs weren't part of the NBA’s "Opening Night" glamour, and maybe that chip on their shoulder helped. They blew the Blazers out by 36 points. But that was just the appetizer.
The Brutal Reality of the Warriors 2024 25 Schedule
Let’s be real: the first month was a gauntlet. The NBA handed Golden State 15 back-to-backs this season. Five of those happened in the first 17 games. You've got Steph Curry, who isn't exactly a teenager anymore, trying to navigate a six-game November road trip that felt like it lasted a year.
They started hot—12-3 through the first 15 games. It felt like 2015 again. Buddy Hield was unconscious from deep, and Jonathan Kuminga was finally looking like the secondary star everyone hoped for. But then, the wheels kinda fell off. They hit a four-game skid to end November, followed by two separate three-game losing streaks in December.
Key Dates That Defined the Season
The most emotional night of the year? Easy. November 12, 2024.
Klay Thompson’s return to Chase Center. It was a Cup game (the Emirates NBA Cup, for those keeping track). The Warriors pulled out a 120-117 win, but the score was almost secondary to the tribute videos and the sight of Klay in a different blue.
- October 27: The home opener against the Clippers (a tough 112-104 loss).
- Christmas Day: The annual tradition of playing the Lakers. Steph vs. LeBron.
- January 20: MLK Day against the Boston Celtics at home.
- February 16: The All-Star Game right there at Chase Center.
The Warriors 2024 25 schedule was also heavy on national TV exposure. 36 games. Second only to the Lakers. People still want to see Steph, even if the roster looks a lot different than the dynasty years.
The Jimmy Butler Trade and the Schedule Shift
Everything changed on February 5, 2025. Mike Dunleavy Jr. pulled the trigger on a massive five-team trade to bring Jimmy Butler to the Bay. We saw Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson head to Miami.
Suddenly, those games in late February and March looked a lot different. The "rest disadvantage" games—where the Warriors were tired and their opponents were fresh—became the Jimmy Butler "grit" tests. According to Positive Residual, the Warriors led the league in rest-disadvantaged games with 14. That is a brutal statistic for an older team.
That January Homestand Was a Lifesaver
If the November road trip was the low point, the January stretch was the savior. Between January 2nd and January 20th, the team played 10 home games and only one away game.
It was a total "get-right" stretch. They beat the 76ers 139-105 to start the new year and found some rhythm before the trade deadline madness. Honestly, without that 8-game homestand, they might not have even made the Play-In.
How the Schedule Impacted the Standings
The West was a bloodbath. Oklahoma City was playing like they were on a different planet, finishing 68-14. The Warriors ended up as the 7th seed, just two games back of the Lakers and Clippers for the 3rd spot.
- OKC Thunder: 68-14
- Houston Rockets: 52-30
- LA Lakers: 50-32
- Denver Nuggets: 50-32
- LA Clippers: 50-32
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 49-33
- Golden State Warriors: 48-34
They had to fight through the Play-In again, beating Memphis on April 15 to secure that playoff spot.
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What Actually Happened in the Playoffs?
The Warriors 2024 25 schedule didn't end with the regular season. As the 7-seed, they drew the Houston Rockets. Most experts thought Houston's youth would overwhelm them. Instead, Golden State went up 3-1.
Houston fought back to force a Game 7, but the Warriors' experience (and a lot of Jimmy Butler's defense) pushed them through to the Conference Semifinals. Unfortunately, that’s where the magic ran out. They lost to the Timberwolves 4-1, especially after Steph dealt with an injury that slowed him down.
Actionable Insights for Fans Tracking the 2025-26 Horizon
Now that we’ve digested the chaos of the 2024-25 run, it’s clear that "strength of schedule" (SOS) is often a lie. The Warriors had one of the hardest schedules early on, but their ability to sweep home-stands in January kept their season alive.
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If you are looking ahead to the next cycle, pay attention to the "miles traveled" and "rest days." The Warriors traveled significantly more than teams like the Knicks or Sixers this year. For an aging core, that’s often more important than who they are actually playing. Keep an eye on the official NBA release in August 2025 to see if the league finally gives them a break on those back-to-backs.
To keep your edge as a fan, focus on the 5-games-in-7-nights stretches. Those are the games where Kerr traditionally rests the vets, making them the best times to look for "trap game" opportunities if you're following the betting lines.