The Warriors suffered major losses this summer.
Yes, Kevin Durant packed up and took his talents to the Brooklyn Nets. While losing a two-time NBA Finals MVP is difficult for any franchise to stomach, the Warriors have the talent to do just that. But losing Andre Iguodala, who was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, and the now-retired Shaun Livingston will be more difficult to overcome.
As the Warriors prepare to embark on another Finals quest, Steph Curry detailed why it will be hard for the Dubs to fill the void left by the two veterans.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"It'll be really hard -- not just what they do on the floor," Curry said Monday at Warriors Media Day. "The intangibles and just that winning mentality that they brought every single they stepped foot on the floor. It was the idea that you had two guys that kind of knew how to handle their business, were ultimate professionals, were extremely savvy and knowledgeable about how the game works, the business of basketball works and you didn't have to worry about them. They said the right thing at the right time. They led by example and you respected them when they walked in the room because of who they are and what they had accomplished in their careers.
"So there's an opportunity for somebody to step up in that role, in terms of filling the gaps on the court from an Xs and Os standpoint and help us be successful and win games, We'll develop the chemistry and the locker room presence that's needed. At the end of the day, myself, Draymond, Klay are going to lead the charge on that front and D'Angelo is going to have a huge opportunity to be a vocal leader for this team and he's going to need to be. But there should be some unsung heroes -- some guys who can step up, be consistent with their work ethic and demonstrate that every day, being vocal and understanding that their voice can carry and get us where we need to go."
The Warriors enter their first season at Chase Center with lots to work out.
Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney are back, but the Dubs brought in a slew of new faces in the offseason, led by All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell, in order to re-tool their roster. The chemistry will need to develop fast if the Dubs plan to survive until Thompson returns from the torn ACL he suffered in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Golden State Warriors
Without Iguodala and Livingston, Curry and Green will be tasked with taking on even more of a leadership role than they already carry.
[RELATED: Cauley-Stein's injury leaves Warriors thin in bruising West]
This season will have a different type of feel.
The Warriors have been the big, bad bully of the NBA in recent years, but now they find themselves as an underdog in the vaunted Western Conference.
With an influx of young players, Golden State will miss the leadership of Iguodala and Livingston, but there are a number of players capable of stepping up in their absence. And, who knows, there's a chance Iguodala could return to the Bay.