GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

The Warriors missed the playoffs in 2023-24 with a 46-36 record, losing in the play-in tournament, then acquired Jimmy Butler from Miami at the February 2025 trade deadline. Butler sparked a 23-8 run down the stretch that season and helped them upset the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round, finishing 48-34 as the seventh seed before losing to Minnesota 1-4 in the conference semifinals. The 2025-26 season started 4-1 but Butler suffered a season-ending ACL injury on January 19, 2026, and the Warriors suffered their first losing season since 2020, finishing 37-45 and 10th in the Western Conference. Butler's injury and the team's collapse pushed collector focus away from role players, while the ongoing uncertainty around aging stars and health issues continues to shape card demand.

Where they stand: The 2025-26 season ended with a 37-45 record and a 10th-place finish in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs. The Warriors are now in the 2026 offseason, having drafted Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th pick in June and re-signed center Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million deal. Butler is recovering from his ACL injury and is expected to miss the first few months of the 2026-27 campaign, while the front office weighs whether to retool around an aging core or pursue further changes.