Now that training camp has officially started for the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr has some decisions to make regarding the Warriors starting five. Aside from veteran guard Stephen Curry, Kerr said the remaining starting spots are "up for grabs."
"There is competition across the board," Kerr said Tuesday after the Warriors first practice session, according to ESPN's Kendra Andrews. "It's not as simple as, 'Who is going to be the 2?' It's got to be — 'Who is going to be the 5? Who's the 4?' We know that Steph is the 1. But what's the combination?"
Kerr brings up a valid point. Since the Warriors won their most recent championship during the 2021-22 season, results have been harder to come by, primarily due to the inability to find a consistent starting rotation. After making five consecutive Finals appearances from the 2014-15 season through the 2018-19 season and winning the title in three of those five appearances, the Warriors failed to make the playoffs altogether last season.
With the departures of Klay Thompson to the Mavericks and Chris Paul to the Spurs, there are plenty of battles to watch throughout training camp as the Warriors try to find some cohesion following a disappointing 2023-24 season.
The center position will likely be decided between veteran Kevon Looney and second-year player Trayce Jackson-Davis, who is coming off an impressive rookie season where he averaged 7.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and shot 70.2% from the field.
While it is likely that Draymond Green will remain in the starting lineup, Kyle Anderson, who spent the last two seasons in Minnesota, is viewed as an option if the Warriors utilize a smaller lineup.
Even though the frontcourt spot should be an intriguing battle between Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins, the biggest competition may be in the backcourt.
Second-year player Brandin Podziemski, who averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in his debut season, newcomer to the Warriors De'Anthony Melton and veteran Buddy Hield bring their own style of play, which should make for an interesting battle during camp.
After some key departures and a talented crop of newcomers on the team this season, Kerr sees this as an opportunity for the Warriors to "reinvent ourselves a little bit."
With so many questions surrounding the starting five and who the first players off the bench are going to be, Kerr views training camp as a way to "establish our identity out of that competition."
