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Warriors Notes: Curry, Butler, Kerr, Jackson-Davis, Post

November 2nd, 2025 at 11:28am CST by Rory Maher

The Warriors had a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game at Indiana, only to let it slip away, eventually falling to an injury-ravaged Pacers team that picked up its first win of the season. With six minutes left, Golden State was up 104-93; the team only scored five points the rest of the game while giving up 21.

Two-time MVP Stephen Curry placed the blame on himself for the loss, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN (Twitter video link). The star guard had 24 points in 29 minutes, but shot just 8-of-23 from the field, had five turnovers and only two assists (zero rebounds), and was a game-worst minus-21.

“This is one of those look in the mirror (type games),” said Curry. “There are parts of the game where I made it too hard on all of us, with not getting getting organized, bad possessions, a little lack of energy.”

After a 4-1 start, the Warriors have dropped two straight games (the first was a loss to the Bucks playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo). Jimmy Butler expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back, as Slater relays.

“We haven’t lost any momentum, we just haven’t been playing our best version of basketball,” said Butler, who recorded 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks on Saturday. “It’s easy to get back to that — taking care of the ball, not fouling, rebounding, sharing, making shots. That’s easy. Like you said, it’s only seven games. Everybody’s still on this bus and doing what we’re supposed to be doing together.”

Here’s more on the Warriors:

  • Head coach Steve Kerr was frustrated after Saturday’s loss, per Slater (Twitter video link). “It feels like we just gave away two games,” Kerr said. “ … We have to find a way to be sharper. There’s always tough nights during the season. This should not have been one of them. We had the day off yesterday. We didn’t shoot around today. We had plenty of rest. But execution down the stretch was awful. And it’s a shame because our young guys played their asses off to get us the 11-point lead. Gui (Santos), Moses (Moody), (Brandin Podziemski), those guys were fantastic.”
  • As Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star writes (subscriber link), Trayce Jackson-Davis has been out of Golden State’s rotation to open the season, but the third-year center says he’ll be ready to produce when called upon. “It’s not necessarily that I need to show anything,” Jackson-Davis said Saturday morning at an optional shootaround. “But I need to go in and play with high energy. Rebound at a high level and run the floor. Do things of that nature. I think that’s what I bring to our team. We have a lot of older guys on our team, there will be guys who sit out back-to-backs, so when I get a chance I have to do those things and build on it from there.”
  • In an interview with Mark Medina of EssentiallySports, Dutch big man Quinten Post discusses his offseason, his expectations for his second season, learning from Al Horford, and more.
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Warriors Notes: Seth Curry, Injury Risks, Butler, Jackson-Davis, Podziemski

October 4th, 2025 at 11:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

At a news conference following Thursday’s practice, Seth Curry explained why he decided to join the Warriors after resisting the idea of teaming up with older brother Stephen Curry throughout his career, writes Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle. Seth told reporters that he was trying to “create my own path” in the NBA, and playing in his brother’s shadow would have interfered with that.

Coach Steve Kerr agreed with that reasoning, saying it would have been awkward to have both brothers on the team earlier in their careers.

“I don’t know if the timing was right (for Seth to join us) over recent years,” Kerr said. “We probably didn’t have playing time for him. He was in a place where he was going to teams and playing a lot, making money. It just feels like (Stephen and Seth are) both at a point in their careers where this makes a ton of sense. I’m thrilled to have Seth.”

While Steph became a legend in the Bay Area, the younger Curry faced a different journey, working his way up through the G League and playing for nine teams over the past 11 years. He has been a deadly outside shooter wherever he has gone, and Gordon notes that his career percentage of 43.3% from beyond the arc is slightly better than his brother, who is considered possibly the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history.

Seth holds a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 deal, and he’s expected to be waived before the start of the regular season. The plan is for him to rejoin the team at some point during the season on a pro-rated veteran’s minimum deal due to the Warriors’ hard-cap situation.

“Everybody’s excited about it,” he said. “Instead of watching more games, it should be just easier to watch my game, which is easier on everybody. Everybody is excited about it, except maybe my dad (Dell Curry). He didn’t want me to leave Charlotte.”

There’s more on the Warriors:

  • Golden State will likely become the first team in NBA history with four starters who are at least 35 years old, so Kerr will have to be cognizant of playing time to minimize injuries, Gordon states in a separate story. Thirty-nine-year-old Al Horford joins Stephen Curry (37), Jimmy Butler (36) and Draymond Green (35), and the team has reserves Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield who will both turn 33 during the season. “We don’t want to be in a position where you’re chasing (a playoff berth) down the stretch of the season,” Curry said. “It felt like every game was a playoff game for two straight months and then you transition into a very tough seven-game series and then you’re 48 hours from a round two, Game 1. It was a very condensed high level of basketball.”
  • Butler missed practice Friday and Saturday while recovering from a rolled ankle and Kerr considers him a “question mark” for Sunday’s preseason opener, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link). Trayce Jackson-Davis has a taped right thumb and is also considered questionable.
  • Brandin Podziemski was used as a starter at Thursday’s practice, but Kerr said nothing has been decided yet, per Anthony Slater of ESPN (Twitter link).
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Draymond Green Discusses Decision On Jonathan Kuminga, Offseason Plans

May 18th, 2025 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Warriors forward Draymond Green addressed several topics related to the team in his latest podcast, including an upcoming decision on restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga (hat tip to BasketNews).

Kuminga was an impact player for Golden State early in the season, but his role diminished after the team traded for Jimmy Butler in early February. His minutes declined once he returned from an extended absence caused a severe right ankle sprain, and he was barely used in the playoffs until injuries to Butler and Stephen Curry opened up opportunities.

The fourth-year forward is only 22 and provides athleticism and physicality that the Warriors need. However, there are concerns about playing him alongside Green and Butler because none of them are accomplished three-point shooters.

Green admitted it would be a “huge financial commitment” to bring back Kuminga, who is likely to get a significant offer if he reaches the open market. He also singled out Kuminga for dealing with the uncertainty surrounding his playing time and for thanking coach Steve Kerr in his exit interview for helping him develop as a player.

“I love the way he handled it … that was such a responsible, great, well-thought answer,” Green said. “He will get paid here, or he will get paid somewhere else.”

Green talked about the team’s collection of young talent in general, also mentioning Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Gui Santos and Quinten Post. He said they all made progress during the season, but acknowledged that several of them may not return.

“When I look at our young guys, they all show promise,” Green said, “… but just off sheer numbers and the way this business works, probably not all will be back.”

It was an up-and-down season for the Warriors, who started off slowly, then surged once they acquired Butler. They narrowly missed a top-six spot in the West, then defeated Memphis in the play-in tournament and Houston in the first round before being ousted by Minnesota in five games.

Green expects his team to be back in title contention next season and said he, Curry and Butler will provide input to management on possible offseason moves.

“You just got to have a conversation … what can be seen from the stands or from some numbers — it ain’t always what it seems,” he said. “We’ll be in the weeds … trying to make it all make sense. The goals will be the goals — trying to win a championship. I stand on that 100%.”

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Warriors Notes: Kuminga, Jackson-Davis, Butler, Rotations

May 9th, 2025 at 9:15pm CST by Eli Cohen

As the Warriors navigate the loss of Stephen Curry to a “tricky” hamstring strain, head coach Steve Kerr is going to have to reshape the game plan on the fly. That includes opening up minutes to players who might not have gotten as many opportunities otherwise.

“There’s no Steph. It’s a completely different team,” Kerr said, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater (via Twitter). He pointed at two players in particular who will play a part in the team’s Game 3 approach: Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

“Everything has to be about finding a new formula and [Kuminga] is absolutely a part of that formula,” he said.

Kuminga only played 50 total minutes in the Warriors’ seven-game series against the Rockets, but with Curry down, he logged 26 minutes in Game 2 against the Timberwolves, scoring 18 points on 11 shots. With few offensive options outside of Jimmy Butler and Brandin Podziemski, Kuminga’s ability to score and pressure the rim will be important to keeping the offense running.

When it comes to Jackson-Davis, Kerr said, “[He] showed he can be effective against this team,” referencing the second-year center’s 15-point, six-rebound performance in just 19 minutes in Game 2. Jackson-Davis has only played more than six minutes twice in this postseason, but Curry’s injury means the team is leaning more into its defensive personnel.

Here are more Warriors notes:

  • The Warriors have spent years trying to mold Kuminga into the team-first player they want him to be, with mixed results, but now they’ll have to rely on him playing like the star-in-the-making he considers himself, writes The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II. As long as Curry is out, Kuminga has a runway to prove himself both now and for the future, with restricted free agency around the corner. “This has not been an easy stretch for (him),” Kerr said after Game 2. “He really came out there and did a great job today and showed what he’s made of. Obviously, he’ll be back out there in Game 3. We’re gonna need him.”
  • Jimmy Butler admitted after Game 2 that he’s still feeling the effects of the hard fall he took in the first round against Houston, which resulted in him being diagnosed with a pelvic contusion (Twitter video link via Slater). Butler has shot 39.4% from the field through two games against the Wolves, though in typical fashion, his contributions extend across the box score — he has averaged nine rebounds and six assists per night.
  • The Warriors are the first team in NBA history to use 14 players in the first half of a playoff game, Slater writes for The Athletic. This was part of a broader push from Kerr and the coaching staff to throw different things at the wall to see what sticks while not overtaxing their remaining stars. “We went into the game thinking we’d play a lot of people short-burst minutes, try to protect Jimmy and Draymond,” Kerr said. “They’ve been playing huge minutes every other day, flying all over the country. We had to weigh that.” That approach included going away from the struggling Quinten Post and Moses Moody, whom the team had turned to in the previous series, in favor of Kuminga and Jackson-Davis. Expect Kerr to continue searching for combinations and riding hot hands as the team looks to manufacture offense and stay alive until Curry can return.
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NBA Announces Player Pool For 2025 Rising Stars Event

January 28th, 2025 at 2:25pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA has officially revealed the 10 rookies, 11 sophomores, and seven G League players who have been selected to take part in the 2025 Rising Stars event at All-Star weekend in San Francisco next month.

The following players made the cut, as voted on by NBA assistant coaches (rookies and sophomores) and selected by the league office (G Leaguers):

Rookies

Sophomores

G League Players

* Note: Players marked with asterisks are on standard or two-way contracts with NBA teams.

As usual, the Rising Stars event will consist of four teams and three games. The seven G League players will comprise one team, while the other 21 players will be drafted to three squads on February 4.

The four teams will be split into two first-round matchups and the winners of those two games will face one another for the Rising Stars championship. The two semifinals will be played to a target score of 40 points, while the final will be played to a target score of 25 points.

All three contests will take place on Friday, February 14 as part of All-Star weekend’s opening night. The winning team will compete on Sunday in a similar four-team tournament, with the three other rosters made up of NBA All-Stars.

A handful of injury replacements will be necessary, with McCain, Lively, and Brandon Miller among the players who won’t be available to suit up. Additionally, since players selected as All-Stars won’t play in the Rising Stars event, Wembanyama will almost certainly need to be replaced.

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Injury Notes: Vanderbilt, Warriors, Agbaji, Richardson

January 10th, 2025 at 3:01pm CST by Rory Maher

Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt hasn’t played an NBA game in more than 11 months, with his last appearance coming in Boston on February 1, 2024. However, he continues to inch closer to making his season debut, having been assigned to the South Bay Lakers for a practice this morning and subsequently being recalled to practice with the NBA club (Twitter links via Dave McMenamin of ESPN).

Vanderbilt, who made just 29 appearances in 2023/24 due to a heel injury, underwent surgeries on both of his feet during the offseason, then experienced a setback (fluid build-up in his left knee) in early December. He’s expected to suit up at some point in January, though he’ll be on a minutes restriction when he’s available.

Here are a few more injury notes from around the NBA:

  • The Warriors will be shorthanded again on Friday at Indiana. Stephen Curry (knee management) and Draymond Green (back) have both been ruled out for the second end of a back-to-back, tweets Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Andrew Wiggins (personal reasons), Jonathan Kuminga (ankle sprain), Brandin Podziemski (right abdominal) and Gary Payton II (left calf strain) will also be sidelined. On a brighter note, fourth-year wing Moses Moody is probable Friday after missing Thursday’s game due to patellar tendinopathy in his left knee, per the league’s official injury report. Center Trayce Jackson-Davis is questionable due to a left eye contusion.
  • Raptors wing Ochai Agbaji missed his first game of the season on Thursday in Cleveland due to a left hip pointer. He’s also doubtful to suit up for Saturday’s matchup in Detroit, per Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link). A former lottery pick, Agbaji will be eligible for a rookie scale extension in the offseason.
  • Heat guard/forward Josh Richardson was technically active for Thursday’s win in Utah, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link), though the impending free agent didn’t receive any playing time. Richardson has been plagued by a heel injury for much of the 2024/25 season, only making eight appearances to this point and last playing on November 18.
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Pacific Notes: Warriors, Kuminga, Lakers, Beal

December 31st, 2024 at 10:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

Warriors coach Steve Kerr seems ready to abandon the 11- and 12-man rotations he was using early in the season, writes Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle. Although Golden State had success with that approach while Kerr experimented to see how his new players fit together, he wants a consistent group on the court as the schedule becomes more challenging.

“Given the stretch we’re in … we’ve got to settle in these next couple weeks,” he said before Monday’s game. “Stick with the same lineup. Same rotation off the bench if possible and see if we can find some rhythm.”

He unveiled the new approach on Saturday, using Dennis Schröder, Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green as his closing lineup and giving them all at least 34 minutes. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Buddy Hield, Lindy Waters III and Brandin Podziemski made up the rest of the rotation. Jackson-Davis got the start at center and was used for some defensive possessions late in the game.

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

  • The Warriors need to lean heavily on Kuminga and the rest of the young core to be a legitimate contender in the Western Conference, contends Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle. That’s especially true of Kuminga, who has the best chance of any of Golden State’s young players to become a star. Kroichick notes that Kuminga has displayed more assertiveness recently, compiling 40 free throws and 29 rebounds over his last three games. “This is a young man’s game, we know that,” Kerr said. “It’s a sport that requires so much endurance, physical conditioning and ability to bounce back from aches and pains, and it just gets harder and harder for the older guys. If you don’t have a young core, you’re in some trouble. I probably feel better about our young group now than I ever have.”
  • The Lakers suddenly have much more frontcourt depth as Dorian Finney-Smith arrived in a trade with Brooklyn and Jaxson Hayes was cleared to return from an ankle injury, per Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. Coach J.J. Redick frequently relied on small-ball lineups, as the team has been without a legitimate backup center since Hayes got hurt. “Night to night, it will be different,” Redick told reporters before tonight’s game. “Jaxson is our backup five. But there may be times that we play small. It’s just the reality. (Finney-Smith) has shown he can guard up. Rui (Hachimura) has really improved from where we were three months ago, playing him at the five in our first preseason game to where he is now. … And we know Doe (Finney-Smith) can obviously play at the five as well. So excited to have options for sure.”
  • Suns guard Bradley Beal had to leave tonight’s game after suffering a hip contusion in the first quarter, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The team announced that he wouldn’t return, but no other details were provided.
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Warriors Notes: Curry, Moody, Kuminga, Waters, TJD, Looney

December 1st, 2024 at 9:36am CST by Luke Adams

After returning to action on Saturday following his Wednesday absence due to tendinitis in his knees, star guard Stephen Curry explained that he and the Warriors are trying to stay ahead of his knee soreness to ensure that it doesn’t become an ongoing issue, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.

“(It) has the potential (to be) like a nagging type thing if you don’t take care of it,” Curry said. “I’m not worried about it, not concerned about it at all. It’s just the deeper you get into your career, the more things pop up and you just got to figure it out. … Honestly, I was happy to get through this one playing 30 (minutes) and not feeling it go the other way. Feeling like I was pretty strong. I got stronger as the game went on, and (my knees) responded well.”

As Youngmisuk writes, Warriors VP of player health and performance Rick Celebrini has a plan in place to manage the issue, according to Curry, who said it’s possible that could mean sitting “a back-to-back here or there.”

“He’s 36,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “This is all part of getting older and managing his minutes, his body, and Rick and his staff are the best in the world at what they do, and we’re working together every day on this stuff. So we’ll figure it out.”

Here’s more on the Warriors:

  • Following a 12-3 start this fall, Golden State lost a fourth consecutive game in Phoenix on Saturday, leading to more questions about whether the team ought to continue using 12 or 13 players on a regular basis. Curry was asked directly whether the Warriors need to tighten up their rotation a little more, as Anthony Slater of The Athletic relays. “Do we need to shorten it?” Curry said. “We probably need to be more predictable on a night-to-night basis so guys can get a little bit of a rhythm. Is that shortening it one or two guys? Maybe.”
  • Slater suggests that the Warriors’ super-sized rotation and inconsistent usage of certain players has “fairly clearly impacted” fourth-year guard Moses Moody and forward Jonathan Kuminga. Moody logged a season-low three minutes in Saturday’s loss, while Kuminga missed his first eight shots of the game before going 4-on-4 down the stretch as part of a small-ball lineup. Slater wonders if the Warriors may try to get Kuminga more minutes without a true center on the court in order to help get him going. “Can we get him more minutes with Steph and Draymond (Green)?” Kerr said of Kuminga. “He’s better with those guys. Most guys are. We have a lot of things to think about.”
  • With Kerr acknowledging that a shortened rotation is a possibility he’ll consider, Slater explores what that might look like, suggesting that Lindy Waters – who came off the bench on Saturday after starting seven consecutive games – and Trayce Jackson-Davis – whose 111.9 defensive rating is the worst among Warriors regulars – are among the candidates to lose playing time. Jackson-Davis has started 18 of 19 games so far, but Kevon Looney opened the second half with the starters vs. the Suns and is a candidate for a promotion to the starting five this week, Kerr hinted on Saturday.
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Warriors Notes: Curry, Wiggins, Spencer, Jackson-Davis

November 30th, 2024 at 7:35pm CST by Arthur Hill

Stephen Curry is expected to play tonight in Phoenix after missing Wednesday’s game with bilateral knee pain, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN (Twitter link). In a pregame meeting with reporters, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said both Curry and Andrew Wiggins will have to go through warmups before a final decision is made on their status. Wiggins is dealing with a right ankle impingement, but hasn’t missed any games this month.

Curry sat out Golden State’s last contest after playing four games in six days, notes Sam Gordon of The San Francsico Chronicle. He was able to make it through Friday’s practice without an issue, and the Warriors will need him back on the court for another Western Conference showdown after they missed 14 straight shots in Wednesday’s loss to Oklahoma City.

Kerr talked to Gordon about the 12-man rotation he’s been using, which results in numerous five-man lineups during the course of each game. Kerr admitted that building chemistry hasn’t been easy under those conditions.

“What we have to narrow down is — with certain groups, what are three things that we can run really well? That’s on us as coaches to get to that point,” he said. “What’s tricky is, we’ve got a lot of different combinations night after night. It takes a little while longer to really settle into all these actions and patterns.”

There’s more on the Warriors:

  • Curry’s absence on Wednesday resulted in the first significant opportunity for two-way player Pat Spencer, Gordon adds in a separate story. Making his fourth appearance of the season, the 28-year-old point guard delivered six points, four rebounds and three assists and had a plus-nine rating in his 14 minutes on the court. “It feels good to get minutes, but I think we have a whole team that can play,” Spencer said. “Might be right back out of the rotation. Might be in it the next game. The goal for me is to impact winning and unfortunately, we didn’t get that done. Keep moving forward.”
  • The Warriors are happy with the production they’re getting from Trayce Jackson-Davis, but they would like to see more emotion from him, per Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle. Kerr said he wants the second-year big man moving at full speed all the time instead of sometimes lapsing into a “home-run trot.” “Your makeup is your makeup and he’s not an overly aggressive human being,” Draymond Green added. “So to expect he’s going to be this overly aggressive person on the court, that’s not really realistic. … As a leader it’s on me and (Kevon Looney) to get that fire out of him, to push him.”
  • Green took the blame for the team’s late-game scoring lapses in the loss to OKC, relays Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Without Curry on the court, the Warriors couldn’t match baskets with the talented Thunder. “Just got to settle down and make sure we get into something,” Green said. “Get into some sets. We were a bit scattered, and that’s on me. When the game gets to that point, somebody has to slow the game down and get us into a set. I’m the veteran out there. I’m the one with the most experience out there.”
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Pacific Notes: Hield, Wiggins, Powell, LeBron

October 26th, 2024 at 11:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Buddy Hield has been one of the best acquisitions of the summer, providing instant offense for a Warriors team that hasn’t lost since the preseason started, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. After scoring 22 points in Golden State’s opener, Hield singed the Jazz for 24 points in the first half Friday night and now has 49 points in 35 minutes while shooting 12-of-16 from three-point range.

Slater notes that the only downside for the Warriors has been an awkward starting lineup that hasn’t quite meshed despite the team’s overall success. The unit features an excess of size with Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis lining up alongside Stephen Curry. Golden State has fallen behind 12-5 and 13-6 in its first two games before rallying to take control. Coach Steve Kerr admits there are spacing issues, but he plans to keep the group together because of its defensive potential.

“That unit is still learning how to play (together),” Green said. “We didn’t have Wiggins all training camp. … Now this lineup is getting a chance to get minutes together. What you’ll start to see if we will start to settle in offensively. We’re coming out in the first quarter and everyone is trying to get to it: Go. Go. Go. Because we want that lineup to do well so bad. Everyone is coming out pressing. But once we settle down, that lineup takes over.”

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

  • Wiggins seems to have revived his career in the early part of the season, observes Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle. The much-maligned forward scored 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting in the Warriors‘ opener and followed that with 13 rebounds Friday night, which is a regular-season record for him. “He’s getting off to a great start,” Kevon Looney said. “… He came with a different focus. A different energy. He’s been locked in and it’s good to see all his hard work has been paying off.”
  • Norman Powell is helping the Clippers stay competitive while they wait for Kawhi Leonard to return from injury, per Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Powell shot 14-of-21 from the field and scored 37 points as L.A. picked up its first win Saturday at Denver. “I was just focusing on what the next play was, what the next read was and really just staying in the moment,” he said. “I don’t think about how much I’m scoring or what’s going on, missed shots, made shots, good games, bad games.”
  • Lakers coach J.J. Redick will be supportive if LeBron James is sincere about his goal of playing every game this season, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “Most players go into a season wanting to play 82 games,” Redick said. “So if that’s what he wants to do, great. I love it. I would love to have him for 82. We’ll manage the minutes accordingly.”
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