While the Golden State Warriors aren’t exactly championship contenders at the moment, the rest of the NBA has not stopped viewing them as a threat. For many, as long as Stephen Curry continues to play, the Warriors have a legitimate chance to win.
The Charlotte Hornets were a recent example, employing an unusual defensive strategy against Curry during their 136-116 blowout loss to the Warriors on Saturday, Jan. 17. Curry, along with longtime teammate Draymond Green, had a fitting response to the approach and to Hornets head coach Charles Lee.
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green Share Candid Take on Hornets HC Charles Lee’s Defensive Plan vs. Warriors
While the Warriors secured the win over the Hornets, Curry was limited to 14 points in 30 minutes.
Lee — who used LaMelo Ball off the bench to start the game — had a player guarding Curry for nearly every second of the game. The defensive tactic made it difficult for Curry to break free, creating opportunities for others to step up and score.
The Warriors capitalized, knocking down 23 of 52 attempts from beyond the arc. Curry shot just 25% from deep.
Draymond Green and Moses Moody each hit four 3-pointers, while De’Anthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski made three apiece. The Hornets were unable to establish a rhythm against the Warriors’ offense, struggling to contain the rest of the roster.
After the game, the Warriors made interesting comments about the Hornets’ defense.
“There’s a part of you that fights it just because it’s not real basketball,” Curry said. “But there’s also a part of it that it’s flattering. Just knowing that you demand that much attention, and also what it does to create shots for other guys on the floor. I’ve seen it all, so I know that if that’s how they want to guard, how I can be effective, not letting it take me out of the game, but also use it to our advantage as a team.”
Green, meanwhile, suggesting Lee might lose his job if he continued using the same defensive strategy against the Warriors.
“I’ve seen coaches get fired for playing that defense. It just doesn’t work.” Green told the media. “We’re going to make that [Charles Lee’s] reality if they play us enough.”
Green finished the game with 20 points and 6 assists, while Melton dropped a team-high 24 points. Echoing Green and Curry’s words, Melton stated that Lee’s strategy had no “rhyme or reason.”
The Warriors post game interviews about Charles Lee’s defensive strategy last night:
Green: “I’ve seen coaches get fired for playing that defense”
Melton: “The way they was doing it…there was no rhyme or reason”
Steph: “it’s not real basketball” pic.twitter.com/g5SvLlVZrQ
— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) January 18, 2026
For the Hornets, Brandon Miller had a team-high 28 points.
Despite being held to 14 points in the win, Curry is averaging 27.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this season. The Warriors are currently eighth in the Western Conference with a 14-19 record.
