No franchise in the NBA has been as successful as the Golden State Warriors over the past decade. They have won four NBA championships since 2015 behind the foundational trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, who have gone from up-and-coming prospects to perennial NBA All-Stars, and are now wily old-timers.

With Father Time not on their side, the Warriors’ front office has been trying in vain to prolong the life of this group with the introduction of younger players. It has now been four years since Golden State first attempted to blend youth into its aging core to no avail. Once promising prospects such as James Wiseman, the second overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, and Jordan Poole failed to live up to the lofty expectations set upon them.

Poole did play a key role in their run to the 2021 title, though his personality clashed with the Warriors’ veterans, particularly Green. This led to last offseason’s trade that sent him to the rebuilding Washington Wizards where he has learned that life as a primary option is not as easy as it seems.

Golden State’s first wave of young players in Wiseman and Poole may not have panned out as expected, but the extra patience that they have exercised with their successors is beginning to bear fruit as seen in the Warriors’ most recent win, a 120-105 victory against the Toronto Raptors.

As what has become typical for this Golden State team, the third quarter proved to be the turning point of the game. Seven different Warriors players scored during the period, led by Curry’s eight points. They turned what was a three-point halftime deficit, 64-61, into a 10-point edge, 93-83, heading into the fourth quarter.

The 35-year-old Curry led Golden State with 25 points, seven three-pointers, six rebounds, and six assists, yet what spelled the difference for them were the contributions of third-year players Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.

Kuminga continued his breakout season with 24 points, six rebounds, and two assists in 27 minutes while Moody added 17 points, five rebounds, an assist, two steals, and a block. This was Moody’s third consecutive spot start for Andrew Wiggins, who is away from the team due to a personal matter.

The 6’8 Kuminga has been a revelation this season, particularly since he moved into the starting line-up in mid-December as a replacement for Green who was suspended indefinitely. In the 36 games that have followed, he has averaged 18.1 points on 55.9% field goal shooting, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 29 minutes of action. He has scored at least 25 points on seven occasions this season, all of which have come since the calendar flipped to 2024.

Green returned after a 16-game absence in mid-January, but Kuminga’s strong play was enough to earn him a permanent spot in the starting line-up.

The return of the 33-year-old Green has also had a positive impact on the Warriors. To make room for Kuminga who took his place as their starting power forward, head coach Steve Kerr has made him Golden State’s full-time primary center. In the 20 games since his return, he has posted his typical all-around numbers: 8.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks. His play, marked by a renewed energy, has revitalized the team.

Over this 20-game stretch, the Warriors have gone 14-6 and this has helped them reestablish their footing in the West’s playoff race. They are now in ninth place in the West with a 32-27 win-loss record, though they are only three games behind the Phoenix Suns for the fifth seed.

The front office’s vision of old and young players coexisting is now coming to life, and the recent form of this team suggests that they could be a dark horse come the postseason. Curry remains one of the best players on the planet and with his reloaded supporting cast by his side, they have the tools to take down any team in a seven-game series if things go their way.

If Golden State can maintain this elusive balance that they have found, a few more years of contention are not out of the question, especially in this current NBA landscape of parity where the only sure expectation is to expect the unexpected. This dynasty may be on its last legs, but a few surprises here and there could still be in store for this Warriors team.