The NBA season is well underway and the Golden State Warriors find themselves in an unusual position. 

Ten games in, the Warriors are 3-7 and in the middle of a five game losing streak. The expectations from a strong opening night performance dwindled down after an early season injury bug hit the Warriors and had one of the worst road-trips in recent memory. 

Despite the Warriors struggles, Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is currently leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals — proving once again that at age 34 — he is still capable of leading the team. 

Curry is already putting up big numbers — averaging 31.1 points, 5.6 assists and shooting nearly 40% from 3-point range. In the Nov. 1 loss to the Miami Heat and the Nov. 3 loss to the Orlando Magic, Curry put up a 23 point, 13 rebound and 13 assist triple-double and a 39 point performance, respectively. 

Warriors guard Klay Thompson is struggling and guard Jordan Poole still reeling from the chaotic practice of Oct. 5 before the season. The Warriors are left without their main offensive weapons and Curry is once again forced to pick up the slack. 

This year’s early struggles reminds Warriors fans of the 2020-21 season, where the Warriors got knocked out of the play-in tournament by the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The roster construction wasn’t the best either. Curry had to deal with players like Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre and Brad Wanamaker — players who aren’t necessarily capable of spreading the floor and operating within the Warriors system. 

In addition, the Warriors had just given the starting center job to the No.2 overall pick James Wiseman and had a relatively young roster. 

With the team facing strange lineups and the young players still not ready for the big moments, Curry was often the one carrying the burden. The Warriors record proved that — but Curry had an all-time legendary month of March. In a 21 game stretch, Curry averaged 34.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists with games of 41, 49 and 53 points. 

Fast-forward to the 2022-23 NBA season, Curry is once again carrying the team. A team filled with young players who have promising futures are still figuring it out while the veterans haven’t been able to produce as they are expected to. 

Curry’s early season success is one of the few bright spots in the Warriors' struggles. The Warriors are finding themselves in a peculiar situation of trying to balance a win-now mentality but also building for the future. 

The changing of the guard is happening — and with Thompson and forward Draymond Green aging, Curry is going to be forced to rely on others to help carry the burden. 

(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)