It is kind of wild how much things have changed at the Chase Center lately. If you haven’t checked the box scores in a few months, you might barely recognize the current players from Golden State Warriors. People keep waiting for the wheels to fall off the dynastic wagon, but Mike Dunleavy Jr. basically decided to pivot and reload instead of just letting it happen.
Look, everyone knows Steph is still Steph. But the supporting cast? That's where it gets weird and, honestly, pretty interesting.
Why the New Mix of Players from Golden State Warriors Actually Works
A lot of fans were skeptical when they heard Jimmy Butler was heading to the Bay. It felt like a "too many cooks" situation. I mean, you have Draymond Green, who is already the loudest guy in the room, and then you add a guy known for being... well, intense.
Surprisingly, it’s been effective. The Warriors are sitting at 22-19 right now, holding down the 8th spot in a Western Conference that feels like a literal meat grinder. The defense has actually stabilized. They’re currently ranked 7th in the league for defensive rating, which is a massive jump from where they were last year.
The Stephen Curry Factor (Still)
Let’s be real. At 37 years old, Stephen Curry should be slowing down. He isn't. He’s averaging 28.1 points per game and shooting nearly 39% from deep on almost 12 attempts a night. Just this week, in a blowout win against Portland, he only scored seven points because he spent the whole night dishing out 11 assists. He’s adapting.
You’ve got to appreciate the longevity. Most guys his size are retired or playing ten minutes off the bench by this age.
The Veterans You Didn't Expect to See
When the team signed Al Horford and Seth Curry, it felt like a nostalgia play.
- Al Horford: He’s 39. He’s not jumping over anyone. But he’s still a rock at the center position, giving them 19 solid minutes a night and swatting a block per game.
- Seth Curry: Finally. After years of rumors, the Curry brothers are on the same team. Seth’s been dealing with some injury stuff lately, but when he’s healthy, that floor spacing is a nightmare for opposing coaches.
- Buddy Hield: He’s been a great "microwave" scorer off the bench. He isn't a starter, but 7.3 points in just 17 minutes? That's efficient.
Honestly, the bench is where this team wins or loses. If De’Anthony Melton comes in and drops 23 points like he did against the Blazers on Tuesday, they’re almost impossible to beat. Melton has been a sneaky-good signing. He’s averaging 15.3 points over his last six games.
The Young Core Is Growing Up (Mostly)
There’s always been this tension between the old guard and the young players from Golden State Warriors. Jonathan Kuminga is the big question mark. He’s 23 now. The athleticism is obviously there, and he’s putting up 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds, but his role has been inconsistent. Sometimes he's a starter; sometimes he's getting 15 minutes.
Then there’s Brandin Podziemski.
Steve Kerr loves this kid. Podziemski is basically a Swiss Army knife. He’s averaging 11.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. He does the "dirty work" that used to be solely Draymond’s job.
Surprising Contributions from the Rookies
Nobody expected much from Quinten Post, the 7-foot center out of Boston College. But he’s carved out a role as a stretch-five. He even led the team with 20 points in a preseason game against Portland. Lately, his minutes have dipped behind Horford, which is a bit of a bummer for those of us who like the "Twin Towers" lineup experiments.
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The Jimmy Butler Integration
Is Jimmy Butler a "Warriors player"? That’s the debate on every Bay Area radio station. He’s averaging 19.8 points and 4.9 assists. More importantly, he’s getting to the free-throw line nearly eight times a game.
The Warriors used to be a team that only shot threes. Now, they have a guy who will just put his shoulder into a defender and draw a foul. It slows the game down. It’s not "Beautiful Game" basketball, but it wins games in the fourth quarter.
"At what point do the Warriors do right by him?"
— Kendrick Perkins on Stephen Curry's supporting cast.
Perkins has been vocal about the team needing more help, but looking at the roster, they’ve actually built a very deep squad. You have guys like Moses Moody finally finding a rhythm. He just broke a five-game scoring drought with 14 points. He’s on pace for career-high numbers this season.
Actionable Insights for Warriors Fans
If you're following the players from Golden State Warriors this season, here is what you should actually be watching for over the next few weeks:
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- Watch the Rotation at Center: Keep an eye on the minutes split between Al Horford and Quinten Post. If Post’s minutes continue to dwindle, the Warriors might be looking to add another veteran big before the trade deadline.
- The Kuminga Trade Value: With Jonathan Kuminga’s contract extension being a major talking point, his performance in the next 10 games will likely determine if he’s part of the long-term future or a trade chip for a final championship push.
- Melton’s Health: De’Anthony Melton is the engine of the second unit. When he plays over 20 minutes, the Warriors' net rating sky-rockets.
- Free Throw Disparity: Notice if Butler and Draymond can keep the team's free-throw attempts up. They are currently 19th in the league in scoring, and they need those easy points to stay competitive with high-octane teams like the Thunder or Suns.
The reality is that this isn't the 2017 Warriors. It’s a scrappy, older, and much weirder version of the team. But as long as No. 30 is on the floor, you can't really count them out.