Following the Warriors’ gritty Game 1 win over the Houston Rockets, the postgame press conference took a lighthearted turn when Klay Thompson was asked about the “aging core” of Golden State’s championship trio. His response? Classic Klay.
“We’re still young,” he said with a smirk, clearly amused. “Steph is 37, I’m 35, Dray is like 35—yeah, we’re good.”
The room erupted in laughter, but beneath the dry humor was a deeper message: don’t count this group out just yet. For over a decade now, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green have been the heart and soul of the Golden State Warriors—racking up titles, rewriting NBA history books, and building one of the greatest dynasties the league has ever seen. And while Father Time may be lurking in the background, the Big Three aren’t ready to pass the torch just yet.
Their performance in Game 1 was proof.
Steph dropped 32 in vintage fashion, hitting clutch shots down the stretch like it was 2015 all over again. Klay was moving off the ball with purpose, drilling mid-range pull-ups and corner threes. And Draymond? He was everywhere—locking down switches, directing traffic, diving for loose balls like he was 25, not “like 35.”
“People always talk about our age like it’s a bad thing,” Draymond said after the game, echoing Klay’s sentiments. “We’ve been through wars. We’ve been through seasons where everything clicked, and ones where nothing did. That experience? You can’t teach that.”
And he’s right. While the Warriors may not be as spry or fast-paced as the younger squads they’re facing, they play with a sense of composure and chemistry that only comes with time. Every cut, every screen, every switch on defense—it’s all second nature to this trio. That’s what makes them so dangerous in the playoffs, even against younger, more athletic teams like the Rockets.
Sure, the league is getting younger. New stars are emerging every season—Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to name a few. But while the new generation is rising, Golden State’s core is still here. And they’ve still got something to say.
“We know we’re closer to the end than the beginning,” Steph said in his calm, thoughtful tone. “But that doesn’t mean we’re done. Every time we step on the floor, we’re trying to win. Period. Doesn’t matter how old we are.”
There’s something poetic about how this team continues to evolve. The flashy, fast-break Warriors of the mid-2010s have matured into a more deliberate, gritty version of themselves. They pick their spots. They rely more on timing and smarts than raw athleticism. But the results? Still deadly.
And don’t get it twisted—this team isn’t just a nostalgia act. Behind the Big Three are younger contributors like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, hungry to learn and contribute. Add in the steady veteran presence of Chris Paul and Kevon Looney, and this roster has balance.
“Yeah, we’re a little older,” Klay said, cracking another grin. “But old dogs still bite. Especially when people keep poking us.”
So, while the jokes may fly about their age, one thing is clear: the Warriors aren’t fading quietly. They’re embracing the moment, embracing each other, and chasing one more deep run together.
“Look,” Draymond added, leaning in. “We might be ‘old’ in NBA years—but we’ve got miles left. And we’ve got the heart. That don’t age.”
