The Golden State Warriors, like the Miami Heat, may only have two players who are guaranteed to start.
In South Beach, the mainstays are Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. In the Bay, it’s Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Warriors’ only remaining players who were in Golden State for the entirety of their golden years. It helps that Curry and Green —both in their mid-30s —are still going strong. Indeed, they seem to be invigorated by the fact that the end of their dynasty is near.
Warriors Position Battle: Andrew Wiggins vs. Jonathan Kuminga
Based on the comments coming out of the Warriors camp about Brandin Podziemski, he also seems poised to start. A versatile guard best described as a two-way playmaker, he has big shoes to fill in the backcourt with Klay Thompson’s departure. However, after shooting 38.5 percent from 3 last season, he may do well in that role.
Podziemski’s primary competition is likely Moses Moody. Moody is less of a threat on-ball, hence his forgettable career scoring average (5.9 points per game). Nonetheless, he thrives as the archetypal 3-and-D player. Not to be forgotten is Buddy Hield. Like Thompson, Hield is an all-time great 3-point shooter. As a result, the offense may run more smoothly when he’s on the court.
Then there’s Trayce Jackson-Davis. Kevon Looney, a three-time NBA champion, plays an invaluable role for the Warriors as a rebounder, defender, and screener. Jackson-Davis, who Golden State drafted in 2023, does all of that while being a far better rim-protector. Looney’s experience and chemistry could give him an edge, but they didn’t prevent Jackson-Davis from taking his starting spot at the end of the season.
Neither Podziemski or Jackson-Davis are guaranteed to start. Indeed, their roles —like everything else in the Warriors world —may hinge on the outcome of one position battle: Jonathan Kuminga vs. Andrew Wiggins.
Jonathan Kuminga
At this point, Kuminga is considered to be a franchise cornerstone. An athletic and physical forward with elite potential, he averaged 17.2 points per game as a starter last season. If he starts, the Warriors will likely look for him to score even more.
The problem is that Kuminga has a lot to clean up.
He needs to sharpen his defensive awareness to be a better off-ball defender. He needs to get his 3-ball down, especially in the Warriors’ motion offense. To that point, Kuminga shot a paltry 29.5 percent from 3 as a starter last season. He needs to be a quicker decision-maker and better playmaker to justify him having the ball in his hands more. Last but not least, he needs to become a more assertive rebounder, especially with Golden State’s lack of size.
Andrew Wiggins
Wiggins, the No. 1 pick a decade ago, suffers from Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde Syndrome. On any given night, he can look every bit like the player who helped the Warriors tremendously in their last title run. On others, it’s far too easy to understand why the Minnesota Timberwolves gave up on him.
He’s every bit as athletic as Kuminga and arguably as physical. Yet, it often seems like his mind is elsewhere during the game. Maybe it is, with his father long rumored to be battling serious health issues. Nonetheless, unless he has proper focus, it’s difficult to justify him starting.
The Last Word On The Warriors’ Position Battle
If Curry, Podziemski, Green, and Jackson-Davis are pencilled into the first unit, who should be the small forward?
Theoretically, Wiggins is the better option, even if he’s not the most popular one. This is primarily because he’s made 38.1 percent of his 3s since joining Golden State. Whether Jackson-Davis or Looney joins Green in the frontcourt, the third member has to be a reliable outside threat so that defenses maintain some integrity. With three non-shooters in the frontcourt, it becomes far easier for them to double or jump passing lanes.
Though Kuminga is a solid on-ball defender, Wiggins is also better in this area. He’s lighter on his feet, is a bit better as a pickpocket, and he’s more experienced. That being said, though the Warriors are known for excellent offense, defense has always been essential to their success.
