Moses Moody is Off to a Great Start in Golden State
The obvious revelation for this iteration of Warriors preseason basketball is the emergence of Jordan Poole as an offensive weapon, and rightfully so: Poole’s expanded his game to be more efficient on some impressive volume, and aside from the numbers, he matches the eye test as a big part of the Warriors future. The big stories this season in terms of young guns aside from Poole’s Most Improved Player campaign will be James Wiseman’s return and second year, and Jonathan Kuminga’s adjustment to NBA-level basketball. Rather unsung in the discourse about the franchise’s future, however, is Moses Moody, the 14th overall pick out of Arkansas, who’s been catching some eyes lately.
After a slow preseason start, Moody checked into the fourth quarter against the Lakers and put up 10 points in just 10 minutes, shooting the three-ball well to the tune of 3-for-3. The rook later made note of the improvements he felt he needed to make, showing that he was confident he could find his stride while still knowing what he could do better. This kind of basketball IQ is very hard to come by, much less with first-year players making the leap to the league.
Coach Steve Kerr had high praise for Moody. NBC Sports Bay Area correspondent Monte Poole quoted Kerr as saying “He’s just got a really good feel… You just put him out there and he seems to be in the right place.” A few months ago, Warriors director of player development Jama Mahlalela said he’s “not afraid to work.” These indications from both head coaches and player development coaches alike are excellent for fans to see, as Moody continues to adjust to the NBA. His shot looks cleaner, and over the last few games (especially with Kuminga out for the rest of the preseason with a strained knee), he’s been getting minutes he’d usually have to split with the 7th overall pick. Moody’s draft report pinned him as an excellent 3-and-D player who, while it could take some time, would fit in well at the NBA level with his skillset. There’s plenty of room for improvement, but Moody seems as motivated as ever to take up that opportunity.
The question becomes what Moody’s role is down the line. He’s landed comparisons to Mikal Bridges (an integral part of the Suns Finals run this past season) and OG Anunoby (one of Toronto’s “next-up” young guys), standing at 6’6 and with a wingspan over 7 feet. He figures to fit a similar role down the line, and would slot in perfectly on the perimeter next to Jordan Poole as a defender and off-ball kickout target, or on the wing opposite Jonathan Kuminga in a similar role. He’s shown some flashes as a secondary creator, and if he continues to expand on that, his value down the line would be way up.
Assuming the Dubs can keep their young core of Poole, Kuminga, Moody, JTA, and Wiseman, the team looks fairly set down the line. The current championship window could be ushered straight into another one, as Steph Curry and Draymond Green show no signs of slowing down now. Give the young guns a few years, and they’ll be ready to take on the reigns with plenty of playoff experience under their belts.
(Photo via NBA)