Draymond Green says youth gives Warriors ‘unlimited’ potential
After the Warriors began the 2023-24 season 19-24–slotted the No. 12 seed in the Western Conference for much of January–they entered the All-Star break playing their best basketball of the season.
Much of the credit has been due to their youth–specifically Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Following the Warriors’ 128-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday, their first game exiting the break, Draymond Green shouted out the team’s youth and illuminated the sky’s the limit for this group.
“I think we’re on a great trajectory,” Green said after the game Thursday. “You always hope that the young guys take a step in the right direction, and as we can see, Jonathan Kuminga, [Brandin Podziemski], Moses [Moody], Trayce [Jackson-Davis]. Those young guys, they’ve unlocked this team.
“I think the possibilities are endless, I think this team has an unlimited amount of potential, and we’re trending in the right direction at the right time.”
Golden State is winners of nine of its last 11 contests, including a five-game win streak over the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz, respectively, from Feb. 5-12. Six of those nine wins have come by double figures while four have come by 20-plus.
Over that 11-game stretch, Kuminga–who’s scored 10-plus in 34 straight games–has blossomed the most. Behind superstar Stephen Curry, Kuminga’s second on the team in scoring over that stretch, tallying 18.9 points on 53.6 percent shooting and 59.3 percent true-shooting.
That comes in addition to 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 31.9 minutes per game. Podziemski’s averaged 12.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists while Jackson-Davis, who had 17 points Thursday, has averaged 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds.
Despite the inconsistencies, Golden State’s 13-9 (12th-best in NBA) since the turn of the calendar with the league’s second-best offense. Its defense has been rather poor, ranking No. 24 over that span, but has looked considerably better over this recent 11-game stretch, where it’s been the seventh-best (111.0 DRTG).
The Warriors have a 3.5-game lead over the Utah Jazz for the No. 10 spot with the sixth-easiest remaining strength of schedule, per Tankathon. If their youth can keep at this level, they will be serious threats to the top of the West come mid-April, should they advance past the play-in.
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