Tag: Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green opens up on interesting season

Draymond Green wants to channel his growth from this season and get better because of it.

Draymond Green endured a difficult season with the Golden State Warriors.

He served two suspensions. He dealt with multiple injuries. And he was ejected from games on four occasions. Yet, as the season heated up, Green emerged as a core piece of the Warriors’ defensive foundation, forming an impressive partnership with rookie big man Trayce Jackson-Davis.

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Green discussed the his eventful season.

“Interesting,” Green said. “Very interesting. But it was fun. I always enjoy playing basketball. Going to war with those guys in that locker room each and every night made everything that I went through personally worth it. … I always want to take the good with the bad. I’m not a front-runner. I don’t only show up when it’s good, I show up even more when it’s bad. … The bumps in the road along the way, that sucked. … I think I grew a lot. You can take that growth, channel it, find other ways to grow, get better and keep pushing forward.”

Green has another three years remaining on the four-year $100 million deal he signed with Golden State last summer. He showed no signs of slowing on the court this season. He is still among the best basketball minds in the league.

Nevertheless, Green will undoubtedly want to avoid the limelight next season. If he can remain available and bring the same defensive energy we saw from him to end the season, his presence will continue to elevate the Warriors the way it has throughout his career in the Bay Area.

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Pacers’ Oscar Tshiebwe headlines 2023-24 G League All-Rookie Team

Tshiebwe was named the G League Rookie of the Year after averaging 15.9 points, 15.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists with the Indiana Mad Ants.

Indiana Pacers center Oscar Tshiebwe and Los Angeles Clippers guard Jordan Miller were among the players named to the 2023-24 G League All-Rookie Team, which was released on Thursday.

Tshiebwe was named the G League Rookie of the Year on April 2 after averaging 15.9 points, 15.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 57.3% shooting from the field in 34 games with the Indiana Mad Ants. He led the G League in rebounding and was second in double-doubles (28).

He was also named to the All-G League first team.

Miller was runner-up for G League Rookie of the Year, averaging 20.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, two assists and 1.2 steals with the Ontario Clippers. He ranked fourth in total points (814) among first-year players and 24th in total rebounds (245).

Tshiebwe and Miller are joined by Chicago Bulls center Adama Sanogo, Philadelphia 76ers guard Terquavion Smith and Santa Cruz Warriors guard Kendric Davis, the only player not signed to a two-way contract. Sanogo was also named to the All-G League third team.

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Andrew Wiggins accepts this season wasn’t his best

Andrew Wiggins season with the Golden State Warriors fell short of expectations.

Andrew Wiggins struggled throughout the 2023-24 season. He rarely reached the level we saw from him during the Golden State Warriors‘ run to the 2022 NBA championship. However, during the second half of the season, Wiggins began to improve and found some much-needed consistency down the stretch.

When speaking to the media on Wednesday (April 17), Wiggins accepted that he has underperformed this year. He also took a holistic view to his upward trajectory as the year wore on while also praising the Warriors’ improvements as a unit during their run after the All-Star break.

“My season was not good, not great,” Wiggins said. “I feel like I started picking up in the second half of the season. But the first half wasn’t too good. Team-wise, I feel like we were really good in the second half of the season; we were figuring things out. It’s really unfortunate it had to end this way. I feel like our defense started clicking.”

At his best, Wiggins is one of the most impactful three-and-D wings in the NBA. He’s capable of shutting down some of the most prominent offensive players in the league. When he plays at that level, the Warriors are a serious threat to any opponent.

Golden State will need the 2022 version of Wiggins next season. They will not want to miss the playoffs for a second straight season. He can be a serious factor in their bid for another title run. The front office will likely be hoping this season’s failures act as a catalyst for Wiggins to get back to his best, otherwise, he could end up as a potential trade chip.

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Brandin Podziemski details improvement goals for next season

Brandin Podziemski is looking to improve his overall game in the upcoming offseason.

Brandin Podziemski enjoyed a strong rookie season. He established himself as an important piece of the Golden State Warriors rotation and flirted with a starting role. He also earned significant praise from some of his veteran teammates. 

As with any rookie entering their first full offseason, Podziemski wants to improve his game. When speaking to the media on Wednesday, he detailed the aspects he’ll focus on as he looks to earn a bigger role in the rotation during his sophomore year in the league.

“I think the ball will be in my hands a little bit more,” Podziemski said. “Just being more efficient. Trying to take the burden off of Steph and Draymond’s shoulders. Helping the rest of our guys impact things. I think when we got into games that really mattered or we really needed to win, we kind of just deferred to Steph. … I think for our other guys, it’s ‘how can we impact games that are meaningful?’ … Just in all facets of the game, continue to elevate my assist to turnover ratio. Try to lead the team in rebounding again. Just all that kind of stuff that impacts winning at a high level.”

In the coming years, the Warriors will lean more on their younger core to lead the way. Podziemski will likely be among the front-runners for a starring role. 

As such, having summers like this one, where the young talent is heading into it with multiple areas of improvement as a focus, is important. It will allow the Warriors to improve their overall talent level while securing their franchise’s future.

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Klay Thompson doesn’t want an expiration date on his career

Klay Thompson doesn’t want to put a timeframe on how long he has left in the NBA.

Klay Thompson is heading into unrestricted free agency. His future with the Golden State Warriors has been a primary talking point throughout the season. At 34 years old, his upcoming contract could be the last of his career.

On Tuesday, Thompson went scoreless as the Warriors were eliminated from the play-in tournament, which added further confusion around his future with the team. When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Thompson noted that he doesn’t want to put an expiration date on his career by committing to playing a predefined number of seasons.

“I don’t know,” Thompson said. “When that time comes. I’m not trying to put an expiration date on my career. Just go by feel.”

The Orlando Magic are reportedly interested in adding Thompson to their roster this summer. Warriors franchise owner Joe Lacob has also discussed his desire to duck under the tax apron. As such, there are some members of the fan base and the media that believe the veteran shooter could be a potential casualty of a roster realignment this summer.

Thompson’s future will undoubtedly be among the top priorities for the Warriors front office. We will likely know what is next for him shortly after the free agency period begins. Until then, there will be an endless swirl of speculation.

As a genuine legend for the franchise, it’s likely he has the opportunity to continue his career in the Bay Area, assuming he’s willing to work with the team in terms of contract negotiations.

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Jonathan Kuminga looking to take All-Star leap this summer

Jonathan Kuminga believes this summer will go a long way to dictating if he can have be an All-Star next season.

Jonathan Kuminga’s emergence as a genuine starting-level talent for the Golden State Warriors was a bright spot this season. The third-year forward impressed with his athleticism, rim pressure and defensive upside. He started 46 of his 74 games for Steve Kerr’s team.

Golden State’s offense had a different element when Kuminga was on the floor. He gave them a more direct outlet when looking to pressure the rim and force defensive collapses. His athleticism will make the Warriors’ offense more unpredictable in the coming years.

With his increased role and his undoubted skill set, Kuminga hopes to take a developmental leap this summer and contend for an All-Star selection.

“It’s all going to depend on how I take this summer,” Kuminga said. “It’s all going to come down to how I go through this summer. Anything is possible. I feel like I could do it going into next year.”

Kuminga, 21, was selected with the seventh pick in the 2021 draft. Since entering the NBA, he has been projected as a future All-Star. This season was the first real glimpse of his overall upside, as he looked capable of forcing himself into the All-Star conversation.

Kuminga will likely get increased opportunity within Golden State’s rotation next season. He’s proven he’s capable of affecting winning at the NBA level, and Golden State will likely make some changes to its roster. As such, if Kuminga can improve during the summer, he will take a big step toward All-Star consideration.

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Steve Kerr still believes in Warriors veteran core

Steve Kerr believes Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are still good enough to lead the Warriors to another championship.

The Golden State Warriors will watch the 2024 NBA playoffs from home.

The Sacramento Kings eliminated the four-time champions from the play-in tournament on Tuesday. The deflating ending put an exclamation mark on a difficult season in which the Warriors dealt with inconsistency, injuries and suspensions.

Nevertheless, head coach Steve Kerr still believes his veteran core can win another championship. Speaking to the media following his team’s loss, he shared his faith in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. He noted all three of the veterans are still highly talented individuals.

“I believe they can,” Kerr said when asked if the core could make another championship run. “These guys are all still really good players. Hopefully, we can re-sign Klay. Draymond and Steph are all under contract. So, we’re gonna roll it back next year.”

Golden State’s front office will have its hands full this summer. In recent years, it has been straddling two timelines. The Warriors’ younger contingent of players has impressed. Figuring out how to appeal to different age groups is clearly proving to be a tough task for Kerr and his coaching staff.

If the Warriors decide to run it back next season, they will need to improve the supporting cast. With months until the start of free agency, Golden State’s front office will have plenty of time to plan how it wants to move forward.

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Steph Curry never sees himself not playing with Green and Thompson

Steph Curry can’t envision not sharing the court with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green for the Golden State Warriors.

The 2024 NBA playoffs will not feature Steph Curry. The veteran superstar and his Golden State Warriors teammates were eliminated from the play-in tournament by the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.

The defeat ended an inconsistent season that raised multiple questions regarding the direction of the franchise.

Klay Thompson will head into unrestricted free agency, and Steve Kerr is expecting some changes. However, when speaking to the media after the game, Curry noted he can’t envision not playing alongside Thompson and Draymond Green. Nevertheless, Curry’s primary focus is on winning.

“I can never see myself not with those two guys,” Curry said. “I understand this league changes and there’s so many things that go into it. We’re not going to play forever. We’ve experienced so much together. At the end of the day, I know they wanna win, I know I wanna win. … This is unfamiliar territory, I just wanna win. Whatever that means, I wanna win.”

Despite his season coming to a close, Curry can hold his head high. The 36-year-old averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists on 45% shooting from the field and 40.8% shooting from 3-point range. Even at this late stage of his career, he’s still the best shooter in the NBA.

The Warriors front office will have tough decisions to make during the summer. Thompson’s future will be at the top of the list. Nevertheless, with Curry and the Warriors core aging, time is running out to put them in a position to challenge for their fifth championship.

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Steve Kerr expecting Warriors to make changes in offseason

Steve Kerr is expecting the Golden State Warriors to make changes during the offseason.

The Golden State Warriors season is over. They fell to the Sacramento Kings in the first game of the play-in tournament on Tuesday. A season of inconsistency cost the franchise an opportunity to contend for a championship despite adding veteran ball-handler Chris Paul last summer.

When speaking to the media following Golden State’s loss, Steve Kerr admitted he’s expecting changes to be made during the summer. The Warriors need to tweak their roster construction if they plan to challenge for a championship next season.

“We’ve been really blessed here with amazing players, multiple championships and finals appearances,” Kerr said. “The highest of highs. And this is the flip side. This is life. This is how it works. You don’t get to stay on top forever. So, what happens this summer and going into next year, we’ll worry about that later. … Our guys have been fighting for so long. They’re incredible competitors and warriors and I’m so proud of them. But we’ve got an offseason where we’ve got a lot to think about, for sure.”

A bright spot from the Warriors season has been the emergence of a young core. Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis impressed, with each player fighting for a spot in the starting lineup. The emergence of those players will certainly raise bigger questions regarding the direction of the Warriors’ veteran core.

Golden State will likely tweak its roster ahead of next season as it looks to put Steph Curry back in a position to challenge for another championship. Whether those changes include parting ways with Klay Thompson and Chris Paul remain to be seen.

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Draymond Green expects Warriors to do right by Klay Thompson

Draymond Green believes the Golden State Warriors will re-sign Klay Thompson during the off-season.

Klay Thompson had a night to forget against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. The veteran sharpshooter went 0-of-10 in a scoreless outing as the Golden State Warriors were eliminated from the play-in tournament.

Now, Thompson heads into free agency with his last outing being among the worst in his career.

Nevertheless, Draymond Green believes the Warriors will do right by their four-time champion. He noted how front office re-signed him to a four-year $100 million deal last summer. He also pointed to Steph Curry’s contract extension. He believes the front office will continue supporting the team’s veteran core.

“Obviously, we want Klay back,” Thompson said. “They’ve shown nothing but respect, loyalty, love and trust for us. So, I’ve got no reason to go into it like, ‘Oh man, they’re not going to do by right by Klay.’ They’ve done right by me. They’ve done right by Steph. They’ve done right by all of us. Klay tore his ACL, they paid him $160 million. I have no reason to think our ownership group aren’t going to take care of us, the way we’ve taken care of this organization. Ultimately, that decision will be Klay’s. … There’s a lot of organizations that will only do what’s best for the organization. This ain’t one of them.”

Thompson will undoubtedly have offers from teams around the NBA. Even after his tough night against the Kings, there’s no denying that he’s among the best shooters in the NBA. His championship experience would also be invaluable to most locker rooms in the league.

Thompson’s future has hung over the Warriors all season. It’s going to be the biggest talking point heading into the summer. For now, though, it would appear everyone within the organization is rooting for him to come back next season.

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