Injuries have been at the center of the Golden State Warriors struggles in the 2019-20 season. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney have all missed significant time throughout the year, leading Golden State to a 15-50 record.
However, there’s been a silver lining with opportunities opening up across the Warriors rotation. Players on the outside of the rotation as seeing a jump in playing time.
Along with a bump in minutes, the Warriors’ group of young players are getting to work with a core that’s won three championships. While they may not be in the starting lineup, Curry, Green and Thompson are still familiar faces around Chase Center.
Marquese Chriss has been one of the new faces to seize time in Golden State’s rotation. The Warriors trade of Willie Cauley-Stein and injuries to Looney has opened up a spot in Golden State’s frontcourt. Chriss has started 18 games for the Warriors, recording six double-doubles.
In a social media Q&A, Chriss said he’s trying to learn as much as he can from Curry and Green.
Via @NBA on Twitter:
This year I was blessed to play on a team with Draymond [Green] and Steph [Curry], sadly Klay [Thompson] was hurt but, I’m looking forward to next season being on a team with him. But this year, I just try to learn as much as I could from Steph and Draymond.
They’re very vocal leaders, and they’re passionate about what they do, and they care about us as individuals, and they want us to be as successful as they are, and you know they try to teach us as much as they can and I think each and every one of us on the team tries to listen and learn as best as we can.
Just learn from people who have won championships and people who have been where each of us want to be. I think that that’s the best thing for us as a young team coming up is have veterans that were willing to teach us and young guys who are willing to learn.
Q: #NBATogether This season you have been able to play with NBA All-Stars like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. What has it been like learning from and playing with them?
– @jrnbaA: 🔊 @quese pic.twitter.com/qS7IK9FO4E
— NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2020
In the 10 games before the NBA season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chriss was averaging 12.7 points and nine rebounds in 23.6 minutes per contest. In his impressive first season in Golden State, the former Washington Husky has only played two games with Curry in the lineup.
Once the NBA season returns to action, Chriss will have 17 games remaining on the calendar to work with the Warriors’ pair of All-Stars.
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