Curry, Giannis and an uncertain path around Superstars

Preview: Bucks and Warriors have stars at the top, but it's not enough

The Golden State Warriors almost had the win, and it was a gritty one. Steve Kerr ejected, Draymond Green hobbling around after rolling his ankle and then sliding his back painfully into the legs of a court side chair, but ended up losing by one measly point.

Naturally, a lot of attention has turned to a couple of hyper-critical missed calls by the referees but Golden State going 10 of 41 (as a team) from deep was what truly kept them from notching another win. That loss to the Los Angeles Clippers still stings, even as the team comes back home tonight to face the Milwaukee Bucks. There’s some punch in this Warriors roster and it’s not just Draymond Green’s friendly appendages.

This should be a fun one. Two friendly stars going at one another amidst a wildly unpredictable backdrop as both veteran elites attempt to keep the chase for championship rings alive - even as the odds dwindle.

On the injury report, at time of writing both Green and Gary Payton II are listed as Questionable; Seth Curry remains unavailable, but Al Horford is clear to play.

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GAME DETAILS

WHO: Golden State Warriors (19-18) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (16-20)

WHEN: Wednesday, January 7th, 2026; 7pm PST

WATCH: NBCSBA

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Oh, the ambiguity

The world is a crazy place, which tends to make life extremely hard to predict and manage. At the NBA team level, this truth is as apparent as it is anywhere else - maybe even more so. As a kid watching Michael Jordan, and then Kobe Bryant and LeBron James come into the league, I remember dreaming about how great the Warriors could be if they could just get that one guy.

The closest call in my lifetime was maybe when the Warriors nearly traded for Kevin Garnett in 2007 in a blockbuster deal that would have paired him with Baron Davis and the “We Believe” squad. But then again, the Warriors also tried to infamously trade Curry and Thompson for Chris Paul (eww). Aaaaand, that KG trade fell apart and ended up with one of the most painful player exchanges in memory, when the Warriors shipped out beloved Jason Richardson for Brandan Wright instead.

So while we are going to pick at the scab of that last game a bit, the hope is that we can keep perspective. Curry is an absolutely magical player that we are lucky to be able to root for and witness. But also, there’s a bunch of bullshit out there that we all have to wade through on the daily.

And there was a bit to wade through.

First, the play that started it all. Curry’s most recent “why do the refs hate him so much?” moment was a legitimately questionable call. Yes, sure, according to the letter of the rule book, Curry had not initiated his shooting motion at the time of contact, but these are exactly the sort of judgement calls that players like James Harden and Shai have built entire careers out of winning.

Right after that, it was a blatant goaltend that was missed. With even the announcing team calling out the fact that it was clearly after the ball hits the backboard. This was a textbook example of goaltending that should not have been missed. For Kerr, it was too much, leading to his ejection.

There was a lot to be frustrated about. The Warriors smoked the Clippers in the last frame, winning the 4th quarter 38-27. Draymond Green re-emerged from his slump to have a positive impact (12 assists, plus-15 while on court), and it wasn’t quite enough; so it goes.

So it goes.

And tonight, we are in for a treat. Giannis Antetokounmpo is in a similar position to Curry and the Warriors. He’s fighting to lift a franchise while the Warriors are the outsiders licking their lips on the edges of the fray, wondering if they can possibly poach Giannis - reportedly (aka leaked by the Warriors) definitely¹ the only player Golden State would even remotely consider trading Green for. But dreams aside, both of these squads find themselves treading water, hoping that the next turn of chance will get them that extra whistle needed to win the extra game or two; all in the hopes of getting another chance at a ring.

The Bucks are on a tear recently, winning four of their last five games and getting strong showings from Antetokounmpo with support from guard Kevin Porter jr and Ryan Rollins - a promising young player that the Warriors drafted but couldn’t prioritize holding on to that has developed nicely.

All of which is to say: nights like this are where the Warriors currently live. Competitive enough to make every possession feel meaningful, flawed enough that each mistake carries extra weight. The margin is thin, the frustration real, and the temptation to zoom in on whistles and what-ifs is understandable - especially when the effort is there and the execution mostly follows. But this is the reality of a team straddling eras, trying to squeeze something lasting out of what remains.

And maybe that’s enough, for now. There is still joy in watching Curry bend defenses, still value in Draymond’s orchestration when his body allows it, still intrigue in how the front office might choose to tilt the table next. Tonight isn’t about answers so much as it is about context; another data point in a season defined less by certainty than by possibility. Against Milwaukee, the Warriors get another chance to see where they stand, and whether grit alone can keep the door cracked just a little longer.

Prediction

I’ve been back in the office this week and keep thinking about that old Transformers scene where Hot Rod tries to help Optimus Prime and only makes things worse. The issue wasn’t effort — it was directional effort. Good intentions can still derail the mission when timing and fit are off, and sometimes the most damaging thing you can do is insist on being part of the solution.

The Warriors will win this game, and I think I’m coming more and more around to Kerr’s decision to just fully sit Kuminga. That’s not the answer; even as Golden State continues to search for the best path, knowing what’s not going to help is valuable. I think Green plays, because this game feels a little more important than usual, for some reason, maybe because because in a season defined by razor-thin margins, directional effort matters.

1. Leaking Green as a “sweetener” for a potential Giannis trade is a choice.