Baron Davis believes the Golden State Warriors are one key piece away from becoming serious title threats: an athletic frontcourt anchor.
In an interview with Basketball Insiders, the former Warriors point guard emphasized the need for size and athleticism up front to help Golden State stay competitive in the Western Conference.
“They need some front-court athleticism to compete in the West with Nikola Jokic, Naz Reid and people like that,” Davis told Basketball Insiders‘ D.J. Siddiqi.
Golden State ended the 2024–25 season with a 48–34 record, finishing seventh in the West. After defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament and surviving a seven-game series against the Houston Rockets, they lost in the second round to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.
Stephen Curry missed the final four games of the series due to injury. Davis believes Curry’s absence shifted the momentum.
“Steph getting hurt in that series kind of really derailed them,” Davis said. “But having Jimmy [Butler] now playing that Robin character to Steph… it just gives you a different flow.”
The midseason acquisition of Butler helped fuel the Warriors’ turnaround. Golden State was 25–26 at the time of the trade. They closed the season by going 23–8 after the deal.
Still, Davis pointed to the lack of production from the center position. The team relied heavily on Draymond Green, who played most of his minutes at center, and second-round pick Trayce Jackson-Davis, who averaged 6.6 points per game.
Green, at 6-foot-6, was undersized for the role. Davis noted that the constant workload “wore him out.”
Golden State ranked 18th in rebounds and 24th in blocks last season. The lack of rim protection and interior presence became more evident in the postseason.
“They needed some help, I would definitely say, rebounding,” Davis added. “If they can get some support, that would really help.”
Their current depth chart includes centers Kevon Looney and Quinten Post, but neither offers the blend of mobility and rim protection Davis referenced.
