The Golden State Warriors kicked off the season like champions in waiting, storming to four wins in their first five games. But now, they’re staring down the barrel of what might be the NBA’s most punishing schedule stretch—a grueling gauntlet that’s got even die-hard rivals scratching their heads and wondering if the league office has a grudge against the Dubs.
On his wildly popular podcast, The Bill Simmons Podcast, the Ringer founder didn’t hold back, playfully accusing NBA Commissioner Adam Silver of harboring some deep-seated animosity toward Golden State. “I think there’s a real chance Adam Silver hates Golden State because I can’t think of another explanation when I look at the schedule,” Simmons quipped during his Thursday episode.
And honestly, who could blame him? Starting with a matchup in Milwaukee last Thursday, the Warriors are locked into a whirlwind of 10 games over just 17 days—eight of them on the road, zigzagging across eight different cities, all while battling some of the league’s elite squads. Simmons summed it up bluntly: “[In] 17 days, they have 10 games, and they’re basically all in different locations. That’s a ‘f—k you’ from the NBA schedulers.”
Adding insult to exhaustion, Golden State isn’t exactly a squad of spring chickens. They’re one of the oldest teams in the NBA, anchored by 37-year-old superstar Steph Curry, 35-year-old defensive maestro Draymond Green, 36-year-old Jimmy Butler, and 39-year-old veteran Al Horford. As Simmons’ co-host Joe House pointed out, this kind of relentless travel and intensity could wear down even the youngest legs—let alone a roster pushing 40.
But it’s not just the mileage that’s killer; it’s the quality of the opposition. Five of those 10 games are brutal road tilts against top contenders: at Milwaukee, at Denver, at OKC, and a back-to-back nightmare in San Antonio. “Like those are five of the hardest road games you’re going to have all season,” Simmons emphasized.
The schedule’s sadistic climax? A four-day frenzy that could break any team: facing the Thunder in Oklahoma City, then jetting to San Antonio for a Spurs showdown, an off-night stuck in the Alamo City, and right back at it for round two against the Spurs. To put that in perspective, OKC and San Antonio have combined for just one loss so far this season—they’re juggernauts on a mission.
Two games into this hellscape, the cracks are already showing. The Warriors dropped a shocker to a Bucks team missing Giannis Antetokounmpo on Thursday, then fell to the previously winless Indiana Pacers on Saturday. Making matters worse, Jimmy Butler popped up on the injury report Tuesday with lower-back soreness, leaving him questionable for the clash against the Phoenix Suns. If the Dubs’ key acquisitions are already nursing aches, this stretch could turn from tough to torturous.
Still, Simmons isn’t ready to count Golden State out. Amid the doom and gloom, he highlighted bright spots like Jonathan Kuminga’s breakout leap and the team’s budding chemistry. “But I like what I’m seeing. Like the chemistry,” he said, before adding a personal twist: “The Al Horford thing still hurts my feelings.”
For Simmons, a lifelong Boston Celtics devotee, watching Horford—once a beloved fixture in green—suit up for the Warriors after his offseason move stings like a bad breakup. Yet, even through the rivalry-tinted lens, Simmons sees potential in this veteran crew. If they survive this scheduler’s vendetta, they might just emerge tougher than ever. But first, they’ve got to navigate the NBA’s ultimate trial by fire. Buckle up, Dubs fans—this ride’s just getting started.