Tag: Kentucky Basketball News

Q&A: Mychal Mulder talks quarantine, Kentucky hoops, ‘The Last Dance,’ playing with Steph Curry and his long journey to the NBA

While the NBA season is on hold, Mychal Mulder joined Warriors Wire for a Q&A about life in quarantine, Kentucky hoops, Stephen Curry, “The Last Dance,” and his journey from junior college to the NBA.

Mychal Mulder’s arrival to the Golden State Warriors has been one of the 2019-20 season’s late surprises. After an impressive 10-day contract stint, the Warriors signed the Canadian guard to a three-year contract.

In seven games with Golden State, Mulder is averaging 11.0 points on 38.8% shooting with 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 29.1 minutes per game. The former Kentucky Wildcat tallied double-figures in scoring in four of his seven contests with the Warriors.

Against the Denver Nuggets, Mulder buried five triples from beyond the arc in Golden State’s 116-100 road victory. Mulder recorded a new career-high against the Philadelphia 76ers with 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting in another Warriors’ win. The Warriors have punched three of their 15 victories on the season since Mulder was added to the rotation.

While the NBA season is on hold, Mulder sat down with Warriors Wire for a conversation about life in quarantine, “The Last Dance,” Kentucky hoops and his journey from Canada to the association.

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March Madness: How members of the Warriors performed in the NCAA Tournament

With no basketball on the schedule, take a look at how members of the Golden State Warriors fared in the NCAA Tournament.

For many basketball fans, March is considered the best month on the calendar. Selection Sunday marks the start of a four-week, drama-filled sensation known as March Madness. However, in 2020, things are a bit different.

There will be no “Cinderella story” or “bracket busters” in the 2020 edition of the NCAA Tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic. The NCAA has canceled its 68-team championship tournament in precaution to COVID-19.

With no games on the NBA or college basketball schedule, Warriors Wire looked back at how members of the 2019-20 edition of the Golden State Warriors fared in March Madness.

Before they were with Golden State, three different Dubs made trips to the final game, with others stamping spots in the Elite Eight. At the same time, one newly acquired Warrior was a victim of an upset in the opening weekend.

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Mychal Mulder records career-high from beyond the arc in first NBA start

Still on a 10-day contract with the Warriors, Mychal Mulder made his first career NBA start.

While the world is waiting on the return of Stephen Curry, one of his new teammates is quietly earning a roster spot with the Golden State Warriors. Breaking into the rotation can be a tough task for a player on a 10-day contract in the NBA — getting your name in the starting lineup is even more difficult.

The Warriors signed Mychal Mulder to a 10-day contract from the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce on February 26. Four games into his deal, Mulder got the starting nod for the Warriors against the Denver Nuggets.

Before earning the start in Denver, Mulder scored in double-figures off the bench in the past two games while eclipsing 30 minutes in each contest.

The Kentucky product continued his impressive play as a starter in Denver. Mulder scored 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting with all his points coming from beyond the arc. The Canadian guard added three rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes. Mulder’s shooting played a key factor in Golden State’s 15 point comeback win against the Nuggets.

The 25-year-old rookie’s career-high five 3-pointers were more than any amount of long-distance shots he made in a game while at the University of Kentucky.

Mulder has received praise from Steve Kerr during his time in Golden State and is now impressing in a starting role — two positive signs for a player on a 10-day contract. Mulder will have two games left on his deal to build off his notable play.

Mychal Mulder is proving himself as a competitor to Steve Kerr

Steve Kerr praised Mychal Mulder’s defense and competitive toughness after scoring in double figures in back-to-back games.

Trades and injuries have opened up Golden State as a destination for players on 10-day contracts. Since the NBA trade deadline, the Warriors have circulated through a handful of 10-day players in their rotation.

Currently, Golden State has three different players on 10-day deals. Dragan Bender, Mychal Mulder are both with the Warriors on 10-day contracts with Chasson Randle expected to sign a deal with the team soon.

Over the past two games, one player is proving he belongs in the NBA longer than 10-days. Mulder, a former member of the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, has made an impact since joining the Golden State Warriors.

Mulder started his NBA career against the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring only two points. However, in the Warriors 18 point comeback against the Phoenix Suns, Mulder tallied 14 points and six rebounds while holding Devin Booker to 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting.

Mulder followed up his impressive game against the Suns with a 17 point effort against the Wizards. The Kentucky product added two rebounds, an assist, block and steal with Washington in town.

After the Warriors 124-110 loss to the Wizards, Kerr praised Mulder as a competitor.

Via Warriors SoundCloud:

He’s a really good player. I’m impressed by not only his shooting but his defense. Last night he took on a really good challenge with Devin Booker. Tonight we out him on Beal at times. He accepts the challenge. Plays bigger than he is. When you’re on a 10-day, it feels like every play is important, every shot is important — it’s not easy to relax and just go play. I thought last night was a really good indication of what kind of competitor he is. He was 0-fo-4, 0-for-5 in the third day of his contract and the clock is ticking and he just kept shooting, kept firing, kept defending and helped us win the game. Came back and had a great game again today. He’s a competitor and a really good player.

Through shooting, defense and praise from his head coach, Mulder is earning more playing time in Golden State. The 6-foot-3 guard will have three more games on his contract before the Warriors have to decide if they want to keep him past 10 days.

Mychal Mulder providing spark off the bench during Warriors 10-day contract

Mychal Mulder scored 14 points off the bench in Golden State’s comeback road win against the Suns.

Injuries and trades have opened up opportunities in the Golden State Warriors rotation. The Dubs have used the back end of their roster to take flyers with 10-day contracts.

The Warriors have rotated through four different players on 10-day deals with the latest being Mychal Mulder. Golden State plucked the 25-year-old shooting guard from the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 45.1 % from the field and 39.9 % from long distance.

Mulder made his Golden State debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring two points while grabbing four rebounds. Against the Suns, with a limited Golden State bench, Mulder took advantage of his extended playing time.

The Kentucky product scored 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting in 34 minutes off the bench. Mulder was able to knock down three timely shots from beyond the arc while grabbing six rebounds in Golden State’s 18-point comeback victory.

After the win, Steve Kerr credited Mulder as a significant factor in the Warriors’ comeback.

Via Warriors SoundCloud:

I thought Mike Mulder played a big role in that. He came off the bench and missed his first four or five shots and very easily could’ve hung his head. He’s on a 10-day, and things weren’t going his way, but the job he did defensively on Booker and then getting a couple of shots to go late in the first half in the second quarter. I thought Mike really sparked us.

Defensively Mulder was matched with fellow former Kentucky Wildcat Devin Booker. The Suns All-Star scored a modest 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting with six turnovers.

Making a strong impression on the head coach while on a 10-day contract is a positive sign for Mulder’s future in the NBA. The 6-foot3 shooting guard’s performance against the Suns should earn him more playing time in the remaining days on his 10-day deal. Mulder will have four more games through the remainder of his contract with Golden State.