Tag: Trayce Jackson-Davis

The Warriors championship window is still open

How long can the Golden State Warriors championship window remain open?

The Golden State Warriors won their last championship in 2022. Outside of Klay Thompson, who left the team in free agency this summer, the entire core of that roster is still in the Bay Area. Over the first few weeks of the offseason, the Warriors have acquired multiple veteran talents with the aim of bouncing back after a difficult 2023-24 campaign.

According to Joe Lacob, who was speaking on a recent episode of Tim Kawakami’s “The TK Show” podcast, the Warriors championship window is likely to be open longer than what most people expect, despite the fact Steph Curry and Draymond Green are both in the final stages of their career.

“I do view that our window is a little longer than people think,” Lacob told Kawakami. “If there’s such a thing as a window. But with respect to Steph, let’s just say … I think the window’s probably longer than people give it credit for. He’s in remarkable shape. I do not see some big slowdown from Steph here. In fact, I would argue he’s one of the best players on the Olympic team.”

Golden State has been straddling two timelines in recent years. The young core of Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Daivs and Moses Moody have all shown promise of developing into high-level players. The quicker they can take steps in their development, the more likely it is that Curry and Green can continue contending at the highest level.

Whether the Warriors’ window can stay open long enough for the franchise to get Curry and Green another ring will remain to be seen. However, it does appear that the front office is bullish on the franchise’s chances.

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‘The sky’s the limit’: Kevin Durant, other NBA players rave about Cooper Flagg

After his standout weekend with the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team, Cooper Flagg caught the eye of Kevin Durant and other NBA stars.

NBA scouts and coaches fell even farther in love with incoming Duke basketball freshman [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] over the weekend, and they weren’t the only ones impressed.

After the 17-year-old produced multiple highlights during scrimmages against the country’s Olympic team, including two consecutive buckets during Monday’s final scrimmage, Kevin Durant and other basketball stars took the time to uplift him.

During a Monday afternoon media session, Durant praised the young Flagg and showed optimism for his future.

“He looks like a hell of a player,” Durant said. “Somebody who is only going to get better with more experience. He’s 17 years old coming in here playing like he’s a vet, almost. No emotion. Just going out there and doing his job.”

It’s hard to find better praise than Durant, a former NBA MVP. The offensive superstar won back-to-back championships with the Golden State Warriors back in 2017-18, and he’s eighth on the league’s all-time scoring list with 28,924 career points.

The Athletic released a compilation of other NBA players and coaches talking about the young Blue Devil signee. Every source, from current coaches to All-Stars, walked away from Las Vegas as a fan. Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Detroit’s Jalen Duren, and Miami’s Jamie Jaquez Jr. all offered some anecdotes about his work ethic and talent.

The most impressive quote, however, came from Golden State’s Trayce Jackson-Davis.

I just think that he’s got a competitive fire, and he’s not afraid of anyone and he’s gonna go at you,” Jackson-Davis said. “You need that as a player. And when you’re already like that, and you’re 17, the sky’s the limit.”

Warriors rookies named to USA Select team

The Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis have both been named to the Team USA Select Team.

Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis have been named to the USA Select Team. The Golden State Warriors duo both enjoyed strong rookie seasons and will now get the chance to continue improving their game against some of the best talent in the United States. Their inclusion is a testament to the development they both displayed during the regular season.

Podziemski and Jackson-Davis will likely want to impress during their time with the Select Team. After all, both will likely harbor hopes of eventually cracking the Team USA rotation and representing their country in future international events.

“As a former member of the USA Select Team, I know how important and fun this opportunity is for each of these players,” Grant Hill said. “There is a tremendous amount of talent on this Select squad with the significant job of helping the 2024 USA Men’s National Team as they begin their journey to the Olympics. Each of these athletes will play a role in our preparation as we also develop the national team pipeline for the future.”

The Warriors’ young stars will undoubtedly be looking forward to playing with their Select Team teammates and proving they belong at that level. Of course, Golden State’s front office will likely view their selection as proof that the team’s younger contingent are all on track with their development and progress.

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Brandin Podziemski shows support for Trayce Jackson-Davis

The Golden State Warriors rookie showed support for Trayce Jackson-Davis after he missed out on the All-Rookie first team.

Brandin Podziemski has been named to the 2024 All-Rookie first team. The Golden State Warriors guard enjoyed a solid debut season, playing in 74 games and averaging 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field and 38.5% from deep. However, Podziemski wasn’t the only rookie to impress for Steve Kerr’s squad.

Following his selection, Podziemski took to X to share his belief that Trayce Jackson-Davis’ omission from the All-Rookie first team was a snub. The rookie big man emerged as a major part of Golden State’s rotation toward the end of the season. Jackson-Davis developed a fearsome partnership with Draymond Green.

Both Podziemski and Jackson-Davis are expected to have big sophomore seasons. Kerr has shown faith in both young talents. They project to be part of the Warriors’ future core alongside Jonathan Kuminga. Podziemski’s selection to the All-Rookie team is a testament to the work he put in since entering he league. He has received praise from multiple veteran teammates throughout the season.

Nevertheless, Podziemski and Jackson-Davis must raise the bar next season. More will be expected of them, especially if they want to cement themselves as part of the franchise’s long-term future.

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Watch: Warriors rookies attend a Drake concert at the Chase Center

The Golden State Warriors rookies re-live their experience of watching Drake in concert at the Chase Center.

Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski both impressed during their rookie season. Both managed to break into the Golden State Warriors starting lineup for stretches, and both displayed a skillset that should see them remain with the franchise for years to come. However, with the Warriors season now over, Jackson-Davis and Podziemski will now find themselves with a lot of time on their hands.

In a recent video uploaded to the Warriors YouTube channel, the two rookies relive their experience of attending a Drake concert together. They noted how 21 Savage was also part of the gig at the Chase Center.

The upcoming months will undoubtedly involve a significant amount of workouts and individual drills as both look to improve their games and continue pushing forward with their careers. Nevertheless, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying some live music, especially when it’s happening in the building the Warriors call home.

You can watch the video by clicking on the embedded link above.

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Trayce Jackson-Davis enters the history books

The Golden State Warriors entered the history books after a season of efficient shooting.

The Golden State Warriors selected Trayce Jackson-Davis with the 57th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. The rookie big man quickly established himself as part of Steve Kerr’s rotation, finishing the season as the team’s starting center. He also formed a fearsome partnership with Draymond Green.

On Thursday, the Warriors announced Jackson-Davis had ended the season ranked third among all rookies in NBA history with a better than 65% field-goal percentage on 300 shot attempts or more. He ended the season shooting 70.2% from the field, taking 332 shots and converting 233.

Entering the history books is just another indication of the impact Jackson-Davis has had since entering the NBA. He’s been a polished young big man who has worked on his game, stayed out of the spotlight, and filled the role asked of him by the Warriors coaching staff.

Jackson-Davis will likely have a bigger role waiting for him next season. He’s earned the opportunity to be a legitimate part of Kerr’s rotation and will undoubtedly look to improve his game during the summer.

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Warriors could have two All-Rookie selections

The Golden State Warriors could see both Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis be named to an All-Rookie team.

Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis enjoyed stellar rookie seasons for the Golden State Warriors. Both young players experienced some time in the starting lineup. Jackson-Davis developed a reliable partnership with Draymond Green in the frontcourt. Podziemski earned the praise of Steph Curry. 

During a recent interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Podziemski revealed he expects both himself and Jackson-Davis to make an All-Rookie team this year. He believes he will be a first-team selection, and Jackson-Davis should be first or second team. Both rookies made an impact on Steve Kerr’s roster.

“Every week I see NBA.com’s rookie ladder,” Podziemski said. “To see both of our names in the top-10 list is super fulfilling. But, I think in a much broader perspective, if you could re-draft, you wouldn’t take me 19 and you wouldn’t take him 57. So, we’ve made our impact. … I think we’re the best rookie duo in the league.”

Both Podziemski and Jackson-Davis project to have bright futures with the Warriors. It’s also likely they will have bigger roles within the rotation in the coming years: a jump in minutes could potentially happen next season,

It will be interesting to see if both rookies are rewarded for their strong debut seasons by being named to an All-Rookie team. Regardless of what happens, they will certainly be rewarded for their performances once the next season gets underway.

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Warriors expected to start Trayce Jackson-Davis vs. Kings

The Golden State Warriors are expected to start Trayce Jackson-Davis against the Sacramento Kings.

Trayce Jackson-Davis has established himself as the starting center for the Golden State Warriors. His front-court partnership with Draymond Green has rapidly become a key aspect of Steve Kerr’s rotation. As such, Jackson-Davis is expected to be Golden State’s starting big man when they face the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament on Tuesday (April 16).

According to Draymond Green, who spoke with The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Davis will be facing a tough task guarding Domantas Sabonis. The veteran big man has revolutionized the Kings offense since being acquired from the Indiana Pacers in 2022.

“Sabonis does all his (scoring) damage pretty much within 10-15 feet,” Green said. “A lot of it is around the rim and Trayce can affect some of those shots. But it starts with positioning and Sabonis is great at creating angles. You got to make sure you’re good with your positioning against a guy like that. He has all the step-throughs and jump-hooks, double step-throughs that you can imagine. His footwork is great. It will be a tough challenge.”

Jackson-Davis has faced Sabonis on multiple occasions this season. However, this will be his first taste of the pressure that comes with a win-or-go-home game in the NBA. Fortunately for the rookie big man, he will have incredibly experienced teammates to lean on.

Last season, the Warriors eliminated the Kings in the opening round of the playoffs. This season, they’ve tied their season series 2-2. Kerr’s team will need to dig deep if they’re going to progress onto the second game of the play-in. With Jackson-Davis anchoring the middle of the floor, their defense will likely remain steady throughout the night.

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Steve Kerr praises Draymond Green and Jackson-Davis pairing

Steve Kerr praises Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis pairing for Golden State Warriors.

Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis are developing an exciting partnership in the Golden State Warriors front court. The veteran forward, in his 12th year in the NBA, and the rookie big man have been impressive since sharing the floor as part of the starting unit. Against the Houston Rockets on Thursday, the duo shined.

Jackson-Davis ended the night with 20 points, four assists, five rebounds, one steal and a block. Green anchored the wing defense, led the Warriors in rebounding and was among their most effective playmakers. Steve Kerr praised the duo’s performance when speaking to the media following the game.

“The key to the game was our defense,” Kerr said. “Trayce and Draymond together have changed our team. It’s pretty dramatic. The rim protection, the rebounding that Trayce gives us, what that allows Draymond to do, that has been really fun to watch them together. Trayce, for a rookie, it’s amazing what he’s doing.”

The Warriors have been fortunate this season. Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis have impressed throughout their first NBA campaigns, while Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody have made significant strides in their development.

The Warriors have all but secured their spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament courtesy of their win over Houston. Now, Kerr must decide whether to stick with the current pairing of Green and Jackson-Davis or whether Jonathan Kuminga’s athleticism and rim pressure will be more important.

As such, Kerr has some tough decisions to make in the coming weeks. Nevertheless, those are good problems to have and prove that Golden State’s decision to straddle two timelines is starting to pay dividends.

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Rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis records career high in Warriors’ win vs. Rockets

The Warriors rookie center notched a new career-high in scoring on Thursday night against the Rockets.

While Klay Thompson and Steph Curry fueled the Golden State Warriors’ offense with 29 points each in the blowout win over the Houston Rockets, another young member of the Warriors quietly registered a career high.

In his fifth consecutive start, rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis recorded his first 20-point performance in the NBA on Thursday against the Rockets.

Jackson-Davis recorded a career-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field to go along with five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in 28 minutes in Houston.

Watch highlights from Jackson-Davis’ career-high via YouTube:

The Indiana product has tallied double-figures in scoring in 24 of his 62 games in his rookie campaign. Jackson-Davis has notched 15 or more points in eight of those games.

The 24-year-old will have the chance to build on his rookie season on Friday when the Warriors meet the Dallas Mavericks for the second leg of their Texas back-to-back.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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