One of the most exciting and underrated teams of the season is the Golden State Warriors. With a decorative decade where they managed to get into five finals and winning three championships is one to be cherished for, for GSW. However the past two seasons have been forgettable. With Steph Curry coming back from injuries, Kevin Durant shipping to the Brooklyn Nets and Klay Thompson missing out on two full seasons has been a few reasons for the downfall of the Team.
However, with new year, comes new ambitions for the squad and the Splash Brothers make a comeback this year putting them in a position they found themselves at the start of 2015-16 season.
Here’s a look at the squad for the upcoming season.
Stephen Curry – Point Guard
Arguably the best shooter to ever play the game of basketball. Steph Curry has achieved almost everything that a basketball resume can offer. He aims to take over the record of Ray Allen with the most three pointers made overall and seems like if he manages to stay healthy, it could be a possibility to witness.
Curry played 63 games in the last season where he averaged a career high 32 points, 5.8 assists per game with 42.1% from beyond the arc. He was ranked 4th in the NBA MVP ladder in the last season
Klay Thompson – Shooting Guard
One of the best ball shooters alongside Steph Curry. Klay missed two full seasons after suffering from ACL injury first during the 2019 NBA Finals and then during a pickup game in 2020 he suffered an Achilles tendon injury which eventually made him miss the 2020-21 season as well.
Thompson’s return will be a much awaited one and Warriors will look to leverage on his return and finally make their much-awaited comeback to the NBA Playoffs.
Draymond Green – Power Forward
Warriors loyal Draymond Green has been one piece who made sure that the team remains glued during absence of Curry and Klay due to injuries. His veteran presence has made the locker room vibe during games and appeared in the games throughout their absence.
Green was included in the Tokyo 2020 squad where the squad clinched Gold and Green played a crucial role there as well.
He appeared in 63 games last season averaging 7.0 points, a career high 8.9 assists per game, 7.1 rebounds per game alongside 1.7 steals per game.
Jordan Bell – Power Forward
2018 champion with the Golden State Warriors, Bell makes a comeback to the Warriors after spending the past season with the Washington Wizards. However, he appeared in 1 game for the Golden State Warriors in the last season.
This season, a season of under dogs for the Warriors, will Bell prove an important player for the squad?
Nemanja Bjelica – Power Forward
The 2015 Euroleague MVP, Bjelica rose into NBA during his stint with Sacramento Kings where he established himself a sharpshooter averaging 41.9% from beyond the arc during the 2019-20 season. Bjelica spent the 2020-21 season with the Kings at the start and the was traded to Miami Heat where he averaged 5.0 points, and 3.0 assists with 37% beyond the arc.
Bjelica shall prove a great backup to Draymond Green and the combination is much required as the season progresses.
Avery Bradly – Point Guard
The veteran Avery Bradly recently singed with the Warriors after spending half season with the Houston Rockets. Rockets then waived Bradly where he was trying out for the clubs around. Bradly has been a solid ball man during his tenure with the Boston Celtics and has been in All-Defensive teams two times in his career.
A solid backup for Steph Curry with a defensive mindset, Bradly could prove to be a wildcard for GSW.
Chris Chiozza – Point Guard
Chiozza spend the past season with the Brooklyn Nets, serving backup to Kyrie Irving averaging 4.0 points per game. A benchwarmer to the Nets, let us see how does it pan out with the Warriors.
Signing a two-way deal, Chiozza might spend the season in the G-League developing his skills.
Langston Galloway – Shooting Guard
Entering his 7th season, Galloway could be an excellent pickup for the Warriors. He played solidly 40 games for the Phoenix Suns; Galloway averaged 4.8 points but averaged a career high 44.9% field goal percentage.
Andre Iguodala – Small Forward
The 1st player who signed with the Golden State Warriors during their rebuilding era was Iguodala back in 2013. He was an NBA All – Star in 2012 and jumped his ship from Nuggets to Warriors.
He was instrumental in the Warriors 1st chip in 2015, where he was named as the NBA Finals MVP. A former 3x champ, makes his comeback to the Warriors after spending two seasons with the Miami Heat.
He averaged 4.4 points, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the last season.
Jonathan Kuminga – Power Forward
7th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga is a 5 star recruit for the Warriors. He skipped his college and signed up with the newly formed G-League team NBA G League Ignite where he averaged an excellent 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
After Wiseman, Kuminga is a powerful pickup for the Warriors and will be one to look out for.
Damion Lee – Shooting Guard
After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Lee was picked up by the Golden State Warriors in 2018 after trying his luck with the G-League squads. After injuries to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, Lee found himself in the starting line-up since his arrival in the NBA and started in 36 games in the 2019-20 season.
Lee played 57 games in the 2020-21 season averaging 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and averaging a career high 39.7% from beyond the arc.
Kevon Looney – Center
2x NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors, Kevon Looney has been instrumental in the Warriors rise from the ground. Entering his 7th season in the NBA, Looney’s presence on the court has always been valuable to the squad.
He appeared in 61 games last season where he averaged 4.1 points, career high 5.3 rebound per game and 2.0 assists per game.
Moses Moody – Shooting Guard
2021 1st round pick 14 for the Golden State Warriors another rookie straight from the NCAA is a scorer from his early age. Averaging 16.8 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game with 42.7% field goal percentage, Moody should be a great pick for the Warriors.
Mychal Mulder – Shooting Guard
After going undrafted in 2017, Mulder signed with the Golden State Warriors in 2020 season initially on a 10-day contract and singed up for the season. He had some strong performances during the season where he scored 17 points against the Washington Wizards and career high 28 points in a winning effort against the New Orleans Pelicans.
He appeared in overall 60 games averaging 5.6 points per game with 44.9% field goal percentage.
Gary Payton II – Point Guard
Son of Hall of Famer Gary Payton, Payton II has been an average player throughout his career. Started off his career in G-League, and then played for Washington Wizard in the 2019-20 season and signed with the Golden State Warriors in 2020-21 season.
Jordan Poole – Shooting Guard
Another rookie who got leverage on Steph Curry’s and Klay Thompson’s injury was Jordan Poole. Poole played 51 games in the 2020-21 season and averaged a career high 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
Entering his 3rd year, Poole should be one player to keep an eye on in the upcoming season.
Otto Porter Jr – Small Forward
Former Consensus All-American Otto Porter Jr, has been an excellent addition to the GSW clan. Spending most of his career with the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls, Otto Porter has been averaging 10.9 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 1.1 steals per game throughout the career.
Porter signs with Golden State Warriors this season and could find himself in the starting line-up as Wiggins is not opting to get vaccinated which will make him miss on the home games.
Juan Toscano – Anderson – Small Forward
Juan signed with the GSW on a three-year deal in 2020. After having a successful overseas career, Toscano has been a good off the bench edition to the squad.
Toscano averaged 5.7 points, 4.4 rebounds with 40.2% scoring beyond the arc.
Andrew Wiggins – Small Forward
Former Rookie of the year, Wiggins was traded to the Golden State Warriors as a part of D’Angelo Russell trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Since his arrival at Warriors, Wiggins got an opportunity to showcase his worth not only on the offensive side, but also on the defensive end of the floor.
Wiggins averaged 1.0 steals per game 1.0 last season which is an excellent up for his game.
With Wiggins not accepting to get vaccinated, it will a task for the Warriors to cope up with the loss of Wiggins in almost 41 games in the regular season and more to be followed in the Playoffs.
James Wiseman – Center
2020’s Round 1, 2nd Pick, James Wiseman was one of the most exciting prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft. He had an excellent start to the season, but fell off and then was sidelined for the season with foot injury.
Before getting injured, Wiseman averaged 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds which is an excellent run for a rookie.
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