{"id":161397,"date":"2025-10-05T15:04:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T19:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=161397"},"modified":"2025-10-05T15:04:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-05T19:04:01","slug":"warriors-2025-preseason-5-players-under-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/10\/05\/warriors-2025-preseason-5-players-under-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Golden State Warriors: 5 Players Under The Spotlight This 2025 Preseason"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Golden State Warriors enter the 2025 preseason with high expectations and plenty of questions. Which five players are under the spotlight?<\/p>\n

5 Warriors Under the Spotlight This Preseason<\/h2>\n

The Warriors are feeling pressure.<\/p>\n

Struck by injuries, they had an unlucky exit in the playoffs last season. After a quiet summer, they made several late transactions to close out the offseason. On top of all of that, multiple players have areas to prove. Whether they’re established stars or emerging young talent, many are eager to find out who’ll step up.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Oct
Oct 18, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton (8) runs down a loose ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. De\u2019Anthony Melton<\/h3>\n

After missing most of last year with a season-ending ACL injury<\/a>, seven-year veteran De\u2019Anthony Melton<\/a> faces one of the most important preseasons of his career. Over the next couple of weeks, he’ll have the opportunity to prove that he is fully healthy and capable of consistently contributing to the Warriors’ success. Returning for his second stint with Golden State, the hope is that this season will result in a more impactful chapter.<\/p>\n

The two-way guard is unlikely to be considered a starter in 2025-26. He may not even be available for the regular season opener. However, if he’s ahead of schedule, he can use this preseason to bounce back and regain his confidence and rhythm on the court. In his six-game stint with the Dubs in 2024-25, he showcased his defensive intensity<\/a> and energy on the perimeter. If he can build upon that effort, he could solidify his place as a consistent role player, giving the Warriors much-needed backcourt depth heading into the season.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
May 10, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) warms up prior to game three of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Al Horford<\/h3>\n

39-year-old big man Al Horford<\/a> enters his 19th NBA season with many questioning what his role will look like<\/a> next season. After years of the Warriors struggling to find a reliable center, he could be the solution. Even so, Horford has to prove it. He won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024, but does he have enough energy left in the tank to be considered a first option at center?<\/p>\n

Horford must recognize that his time with the Warriors may come in a slightly reduced role. However, while his minutes are in question, he’s still a veteran leader with an invaluable basketball IQ. Therefore, how effectively he makes others around him better will still need to be showcased. Can he use his experience<\/a> to guide younger teammates while still contributing on both ends of the floor when needed? This preseason will be vital in seeing whether Kerr utilizes him as a steady rotation piece or simply a mentor to help shape Golden State’s future.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Feb 25, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) is congratulated by guard Stephen Curry (30) after a basket against the Charlotte Hornets in the third quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Jimmy Butler<\/h3>\n
Six-time NBA All-Star, Jimmy Butler<\/a>, played great for the Warriors after being traded by<\/a> the Miami Heat in February. He was a huge difference-maker for a team that was floundering. Frankly, it could be argued that they wouldn’t have made the playoffs without him.<\/div>\n

After going 23-7 with the Warriors in the 2024-25 regular season, Butler must prove that success wasn’t a fluke and can stretch across an entire campaign. This preseason is his chance to build on where he left off, showcasing his trademark grit and defensive toughness. His questionable outside jumper aside, Butler’s game fits cleanly in Kerr’s system due to his playmaking and ability to get to the foul line. Now, he looks like the next elite wing who can thrive alongside Curry and Draymond Green<\/a> on the floor.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"May
May 2, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) stands on the court next to guard Buddy Hield (7) during a break in the action against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter of game six of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Buddy Hield<\/h3>\n

With an impressive preseason and first half of 2024-25, Buddy Hield<\/a> had Dub Nation believing they had finally found the offensive perfect replacement for Klay Thompson<\/a>, a premier 3-point threat. However, the second half of the season was disappointing. Hield’s inconsistencies grew and he struggled to close out games from range at crucial moments. The playoffs last year showcased the full spectrum of Hield’s streaky nature. In the semifinals against Houston, he went from scoring 0 points in a Game 6 loss to dropping a clutch 33-point performance in a Game 7 victory.<\/p>\n

Entering the 2025 preseason, Hield must prove he can space the floor night-in and night-out. Another hot and cold season would only leave Kerr frustrated and questioning his long-term role.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Golden
Mar 25, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) signals against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Jonathan Kuminga<\/h3>\n

Jonathan Kuminga<\/a> enters the 2025 preseason under the brightest spotlight of all. Fresh off signing a two-year contract extension<\/a>, the 22-year-old carries the weight of expectation from both Dub Nation and the franchise. After averaging 15.3 points per game on 45.4% shooting last season, Kuminga has shown glimpses of star potential. If he can pair that efficiency with his explosive athleticism, he could undoubtedly cement himself as the future of Golden State.<\/p>\n

Beyond on-court performance, Kuminga faces lingering questions from his offseason contract standoff. He’s long felt underutilized with his role<\/a> in the Warriors offense. However, over the summer, his agent (Aaron Turner) made a number of public statements on his behalf. This not only had his name in headlines, it upset members of the organization. Ultimately, the 2025 preseason is his chance to move past that controversy and prove he can be a nightly difference-maker. If he rises to the occasion, he could still become the franchise’s future cornerstone.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a9 Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Golden State Warriors enter the 2025 preseason with high expectations and plenty of questions. Which five players are under the spotlight? 5 Warriors Under the Spotlight This Preseason The Warriors are feeling pressure. Struck by injuries, they had an unlucky exit in the playoffs last season. After a quiet summer, they made several late […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5650,"featured_media":161597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25,1608,2,62,3],"tags":[250,256,1593,142,4297,48967],"class_list":["post-161397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-warriors","category-basketball","category-featured","category-nba","category-news","tag-al-horford","tag-buddy-hield","tag-deanthony-melton","tag-jimmy-butler","tag-jonathan-kuminga","tag-nba-preseason"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5650"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=161397"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161397\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":161598,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161397\/revisions\/161598"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/161597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=161397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=161397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=161397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}