Warriors, Clippers Rely on Veterans Experience to Win West/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers are entering the 2025-26 NBA season with the league’s two oldest rosters, betting big on veteran leadership. With stars like Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, and James Harden leading the way, both teams are balancing risk and reward. Their playoff fates may hinge on health, minutes management, and postseason poise.
Warriors, Clippers Relying on Veteran Experience Quick Looks
- Clippers (avg. age 30.7) and Warriors (27) are NBA’s two oldest teams.
- Roster includes Curry, Paul, Butler, Leonard, Green, Harden, and Horford.
- Both teams aiming to maximize final years of star talent.
- Key risks include injuries, back-to-backs, and aging bodies under playoff pressure.
- Warriors mix youth with vets; Clippers are fully veteran-built.
- Veterans offer playoff pedigree, clutch play, and basketball IQ.
- Clippers coach Ty Lue plans minute restrictions early in season.
- Warriors focused on preserving Horford, Curry for postseason push.
- Youth development takes a back seat, especially for L.A.
- Both teams could be playoff contenders — or age cautionary tales.
Deep Look: Warriors and Clippers Banking on Veteran Power for 2025-26 NBA Season
OCTOBER 28, 2025 — As the 2025-26 NBA season tips off, the LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors are placing a heavy bet on experience. These two Western Conference powerhouses boast the league’s oldest rosters, led by iconic names like Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, James Harden, and Al Horford.
For the Clippers and Warriors, success this year won’t be measured just by wins in October or November. It’s about April, May, and June — when veteran savvy and playoff experience become invaluable. Still, the question lingers: Can these aging stars hold up through 82 games and a grueling postseason?
High Risk, High Reward
The Clippers top the NBA in average age at 30.7 years. Their starting lineup averages 31, and Chris Paul, at 40, is the league’s oldest active player. Derrick Jones Jr., at 28, is the youngest in the current rotation. Golden State isn’t far behind, averaging 27 years per player.
Both teams are loading minutes onto players with serious wear and tear. Curry, Butler, Green, and Horford alone account for 61 combined regular seasons and 651 playoff appearances.
While this veteran presence brings championship experience and basketball IQ, it also carries considerable health risks. Injuries and recovery time become significant concerns. Kawhi Leonard, for example, missed over 30 games last season due to knee issues.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue acknowledges the balancing act. “You don’t want to run guys into the ground,” he said. “We’ll limit minutes early in the season and see where we are in the second half.”
Managing Minutes and Missing Youth
Back-to-backs present another problem. Golden State coach Steve Kerr has already indicated that Horford, now 39, won’t play in consecutive games this season. In their recent back-to-back, Horford sat against Portland — and the Warriors were routed by 20 points.
The long season may force strategic rest days, which could cost both teams in the standings. That risk grows if the playoff race tightens late in the season.
“If we’re chasing positioning in April, that’s not ideal,” Curry said. “We want to be in control, not scrambling.”
Another sacrifice: player development. The Warriors, at least, are integrating youth into their core with Jonathan Kuminga (23), Brandin Podziemski (22), and Moses Moody (23) earning key roles. The Clippers, on the other hand, are all-in on veterans. Young prospects like Cam Christie (20) and Kobe Brown (25) are seeing little court time and primarily contribute in practice.
Veteran Advantages: What Experience Brings
While the risks are evident, so are the benefits. Aging players in today’s NBA are defying time thanks to improved nutrition, medical technology, and load management. Curry recently dropped 77 points across two nights. Harden and Leonard are still capable of game-changing performances.
Experience also reduces mental mistakes. With leaders like Paul, Butler, and Curry, coaches don’t have to micromanage. These players know when to step up, how to close tight games, and how to lead under pressure.
Veterans also bring poise in late-game situations. Their decision-making, defensive rotations, and clutch scoring often tilt close games. As seen in Golden State’s dramatic Game 7 win over Houston in last season’s playoffs, experience matters when everything is on the line.
“There’s a reason Jimmy’s called Playoff Jimmy,” one Warriors staffer said. “He doesn’t disappear in big moments.”
Playoff Pedigree Still Counts
Though the Thunder proved last season that youth can win championships, the Warriors and Clippers have players who’ve been there before. Curry, Green, Leonard, and Horford have all hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Harden and Butler have deep postseason résumés. Chris Paul has reached the Finals. These aren’t just players with stats — they bring institutional playoff knowledge.
“It’s a different game when the playoffs start,” Horford said. “That’s a whole other level. We know how to get there — and how to win.”
Will Age Be Asset or Obstacle?
The real test won’t come this week, or even in January. It will come in the stretch run, when games get tighter, playoff seeding matters, and the physical toll of the season begins to show. The Clippers and Warriors will be judged not by regular season highlights but by how fresh their aging stars look when the games matter most.
Can they stay healthy? Can they keep pace with younger, faster teams? And will experience outweigh the impact of younger legs in an increasingly athletic league?
One thing is certain: no other teams are putting this much faith in experience. And whether it ends in triumph or collapse, the Clippers and Warriors will serve as the NBA’s ultimate case study in age versus youth.
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