One month into the 2024-25 season, and the Warriors are off to a scorching start. After sprinting out to a West-leading 12-4 record, the Warriors are quickly changing the minds of many nonbelievers. Led of course by the offensive wizardry of Steph Curry, the modern-day genius of Steve Kerr, and the defensive grit of Draymond Green, the early season success of the Warriors should perhaps not be all that surprising. While the Warriors’ surrounding roster is not flush with as much top-end talent as in years past, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that the formula provided by the combination of Curry, Kerr, and Green, is still tried and true.
Despite not being home to a ‘Big 3’—or even a ‘Big 2’—the Warriors are wasting little time in establishing themselves as contenders. And while early trends like the Warriors leading the league in bench scoring and Curry’s reduced workload (29.8 mpg) are drawing headlines, there are other underlying developments which deserve a spotlight of their own. Below are two noteworthy storylines contributing to the Warriors’ hot start that deserve a bit more shine.
2 Early Season Storylines From the Warriors That Deserve More Attention
Andrew Wiggins’ Bounce Back Campaign
Considering that Andrew Wiggins was arguably the Warriors’ second most valuable player when they last won a championship, in 2022, not enough is being made of his return to form. After two years of inconsistency and inefficiency in 2022-23 and 2023-24, Wiggins appears to be making a full return to the dynamic impactful two-way player the Warriors so desperately need him to be.
Taking into account the personal struggles and hardship that have plagued Wiggins in recent years, the drop off in his on-court play has at least felt somewhat justified. But with Wiggins rapidly approaching 30, and with his younger more explosive replacement—Jonathan Kuminga—seemingly waiting in the wings, many expected that Wiggins’ time as a key factor for the Warriors had come and gone.
Fourteen games into the 2024-25 season however, Wiggins looks fully rejuvenated. While Kuminga has seemed to regress, Wiggins has stepped up as a veteran presence, embracing his role as the second option behind Curry. Wiggins is currently putting up 17.4 points per contest. While that may not seem like earth-shattering production, it’s actually more than he averaged during his heroic 2021-22 campaign. He’s also beating his efficiency from that year as well—currently shooting 40+% from three for the first time in his career.
The former first overall pick once again looks confident and aggressive, which means a lot. In years past, Wiggins has occasionally disappeared from games despite his talent and athleticism. If those days of disappearing are gone however, and the Wiggins of the first 14 games of the season is here to stay, the Warriors truly have a chance to do something special this year.
Draymond Green’s Three-Point Shooting
No one would mistake Green for a splash brother—or even a splash cousin. Thus far though, he is doing his best impression of one during the early season. Green is currently shooting a career-best 42.9% from three. While that number is impressive on its own, it’s doubly impressive for someone who has a career three-point conversion rate of 32.2%.
Lineups with Green slotted in as the five-man are already lethal, for obvious reasons. They allow total switch-ability on defense, and a versatility on the offensive end that few teams can match. If Green himself can cause defenders to close out to him, the entire floor could open up—even more so than it already is. And no team in the NBA is better at making full use of spatial advantages than the Golden State Warriors.
Green, who’s never been one to lack confidence, is shooting like he’s a bona-fide stretch big. Although the volume isn’t massive, (3.5 three-point attempts per game)—and likely never will be—if Green continues knocking down the threes he does pick and choose to shoot, everyone in Golden State will be a beneficiary. Green, who again drew headlines for his most recent incident, should be getting his fair share of attention and praise for what he’s doing from the perimeter right now. It’s special, and unprecedented—for him at least. Hot streaks and shooting slumps come and go, so it will be worth monitoring Green’s three-point percentage as the season goes on. Look for him to continue firing as he builds on what could be a career year from long range.
