The path that the Warriors took to emerge from the middle and transform into perennial contenders can be traced back to their ability to develop players, Nick Kosmider of the Denver Post writes.
The Warriors are on the verge of a dynasty, Kosmider says, and attributes it to the fact that the club has stuck with players they drafted and watched them morph into superstars. Well, that and a little bit of luck.
Kosmider mentions Stephen Curry specifically, a player once cast aside as injury prone and the shrewd drafting decisions to add Klay Thompson at No. 11 in 2011 and then Draymond Green at No. 35 in 2012.
- After failing to catch on with the Jazz four years ago, Ian Clark has carved out a role for himself with the Warriors, Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News writes. The reserve is averaging 7.2 points per game as a member of the Dubs’ second unit this season, not bad for somebody who got cut by a team that won 25 games in his rookie season.
- Recently retired forward Paul Pierce questioned the competitive nature of Kevin Durant, comparing the forward’s decision to join the Warriors to a kid’s decision to join a gang of bullies after getting beaten up. Chase Hughes of CSN Mid-Atlantic has the details (and video).
- There’s no denying the rivalry between the Warriors and Cavaliers, even when the conversation shifts to players who only joined the two organizations this season. “Obviously when you play against somebody and it’s the third time in a row and split the seasons and championships, they don’t like each other,” Warriors center Zaza Pachulia told Josh Dubow of the Associated Press.
- Speaking of Zaza Pachulia, the Warriors big man is the last eligible player that was selected in the 2004 expansion draft, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer writes.
The Warriors’ superstars were drafted and developed in Golden State, this is important to note.
The talent was a fortune of luck and optimism but the chemistry is a big residual of this. More teams should look to develop their promising young talent alongside each other who knows what could happen.
With the exception of KD obviously but the attraction was definitely there for a player of his caliber.
Jerry West.
Paul Pierce is the last person that should be talking about the competitiveness of superteams. Pierce ring chased as much as any star in the last decade
He stayed on the Celtics until he was traded. He would have stayed on the Celtics his whole career if he had the option.
They got very luck in the draft. I mean you can scout these guys but Curry Green and Thompson have literally maxed out their potential. Like you look at this draft and it’s Josh Jackson actually becoming Kawai Leonard. Early in Curry’s career he was just a shooter with ankles made of toothpicks. Real questions whether he could have a long career. so whatever voodoo magic or medical voodoo they did to keep those ankles together duct tape whatever that is the only reason they are who they are. It’s a playoff team with Klay and Draymond that is out in the 1st round.
What you need is to take a team and get 10 guys to take 10M for 1 year. Just make a super team and dominate. CP3 sign a 1 yr deal this yr and then team with PG13 Melo Lebron Kyrie and Love. Need a Big to add to it though. If they really wanted to just win they’d do that. Like David West who was an all star but ever since he went for 1 M a year he’s played a backup role but he’d have been a starter on most teams.