The Warriors Are Platooning G-League Guys... And It's Working Great

The Golden State Warriors of yore (prior to Kevin Durant in 2017, so not that long ago) have always thrived on bench depth, and the franchise has always been very resourceful in creating contenders with little resources. It used to be veteran presences looking for a surefire ring, but with the Warriors a bit of a question mark this past offseason, players like Patty Mills and Paul Millsap who were the marquee vets this past free agency forewent the Dubs for teams like the Lakers and Nets.

So the Warriors went out and found some diamonds in the rough, like Bjelica and Otto Porter Jr. But, as certified hoopist Devin Williams said on Twitter, they’re also doing this with about 7 guys who have spent tangible time in the G-League or will likely fluctuate between the Sea-Dubs and the Warriors proper. Each of them has made a tangible impact, so we’ll go through the list and see that.

The first one is a G-League success story if I’ve ever seen it: Jordan Poole. After struggling the first half of last year and heading down to Santa Cruz, Poole because the “Steph disciple” and suddenly was a key part of the Warriors offense. While his jumper hasn’t been falling as consistently lately, his wicked first step still collapses defenses and he makes plays happen. His confidence seemed to dip until that G-League stint, where it was reignited and he became one of the better players so far from the late rounds of his draft class.

The second is Gary Payton II, a 5-year NBA vet who’s been in and out of the league after playing for a few different plays. Payton was one of the guys in contention for the 15th roster spot, although he was cut so the Dubs didn’t have to guarantee his contract before he was resigned to that 15th spot later on. And boy, has he been a revelation. He’s been very impressive on defense, as well as above the rim as a finisher, adding a whole new dimension to the Warriors on both ends. He still struggles with some shooting woes, but his contributions everywhere else have certainly made him look like a steal of a contract.

The third is infamously Steph Curry’s stepbrother, although he’s certainly come into a role of his own this season. Damion Lee, before his injury, was averaging double digits and shooting the laces off the ball. Lee brought some solid bench shooting the past few years, but was initially a G-League guy who was fighting for an NBA roster spot that many thought ended up being a nepotistic move to appeal to Steph. Of course, Steph seems to know talent when he sees it, and Lee’s addition has provided the Warriors with a spark off the bench, even if he doesn’t always make the right play.

The final one we’ll talk about in depth is #7 overall pick Jonathan Kuminga, who has burst onto the scene as somehow one of the Dubs’ better defenders in limited minutes against the likes of Lamelo Ball and James Harden. He’s disciplined, athletic, and a hustle guy who plays his role very well. He spent a bit of time in the G-League earlier this season after returning from injury and not quite looking ready for the league, and while it might be an anomaly, Santa Cruz’s reputation for development has once again hit the mark.

The other guys, being Chris Chiozza (a two-way contract PG who’s played limited minutes this season), Juan Toscano-Anderson (Oakland’s very own but for some reason not seeing a lot of rotation minutes lately in spite of his magnificent impact), and Moses Moody (the #14 overall pick in this past draft and also playing limited minutes) have spent some excellent time in the G-League as well, with JTA being the highlight of the bunch. He’s turned somewhat into a mini-Iguodala/Draymond role on the offensive end, and while he has some bad habits to turn around, he’s still an important contributor who should get more minutes.

The fact that these 7 guys have at one point spent time with the Sea-Dubs is very impressive for the best team in the NBA, and speaks volumes about the franchise’s ability to find diamonds in the rough. For those who believe the Warriors won’t be competitive after the Curry/Green/Thompson/Iguodala era, they should take a look at the youth on this roster, the example the older guys are setting, and how that culture will persist for years to come.

(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)