Grading the Golden State Warriors' players performances this season
The Golden State Warriors were atop the NBA pecking order this past summer after having defeated the Boston Celtics in 6 games in the 2022 NBA Finals. Pundits and fans alike expected them to carry over the momentum into the 2023 season as well. However, for a variety of reasons, this has not happened. The Warriors currently sit at the 9th seed in a tightly packed Western Conference with a 29-29 record. Injuries to Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins have seen them miss a significant portion of the season, leaving the young roster to fend for themselves. As the All-Star break approaches, it would be a good idea to see how each of the eight main Warriors players have performed this season. Note that these ratings are purely subjective, and are based off of what long-time Warriors fans have seen this season.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry is averaging 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists this season. Before injuring his shoulder, Steph had one of the best starts of his career and was in blistering form. A brilliant finals run was all that was needed for Steph to get his regular season mojo back. He's closed out multiple games for the struggling Warriors' team and has single-handedly won them a few games. However, Steph has been lazy with the ball at times, turning it over more than he should. Despite this, it has been a great season for Steph, as he found himself voted in as an All-Star Starter again.
Overall score: 9/10
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Klay Thompson is averaging 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists this season, shooting just under 40% for the season. However, the numbers don't convey the entire story. Klay started the season horribly and was in an awful slump, forcing bad shots, iso-ing multiple possessions, and stagnating the offense. However, when Curry and Wiggins were injured, the team needed Klay to get out of his funk, and he delivered. Klay had a season-high 54 points in a win against the Washington Wizards, and has averaged over 27 points in the last 10 games.
Overall score: 8.5/10
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green is averaging 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists this season. With an expiring contract looming large this upcoming summer, Green has definitely turned up the intensity during the season. He played a large role in the team as their defensive anchor and their offensive playmaker. Draymond has been more aggressive on the offensive end compared to the previous season, allowing the rest of the Warriors players more space to work with. On the whole, Draymond is having a very solid season, and will have to play at this level if the Warriors are to make a deep playoff push this season.
Overall score: 8.5/10
Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors
Andrew Wiggins is averaging 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists this season. Wiggins had a blistering start to the season before going down with an abductor strain injury. He was shooting an absurd 45% from three previously. However, after missing over 15 games, he is yet to find his rhythm on either side of the floor. This does not bode well for the Golden State Warriors, as Andrew was their second-best player during their championship run last summer. They will need him to be at his best to have any shot at defending their title this season.
Overall score: 7/10
Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors
Kevon Looney is averaging 7 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists this season. Kevon has had a very solid season, but he's had to move in and out of the starting lineup due to coaching decisions. Despite that, his production has been fairly consistent and he's been reliable throughout the season. Kevon has also proved himself to be a quiet leader in the locker room, and Kerr has called him the team's moral compass.
Overall score: 8.5/10
Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors
Jordan Poole is averaging 21 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds this season. Poole has been an enigmatic player for the Warriors. After signing a 140 million-dollar extension with the Golden State Warriors, the coaching staff and fans expect Jordan to take a big step towards super-stardom this season. He's done that, often carrying the weight of the offense while Wiggins and Steph were out injured. However, he's also lost them a few games late in the fourth-quarter due to inexperience and sheer mental lapses in clutch time. Production-wise, however, Jordan is having the best season of his young career so far.
Overall score: 8/10
Donte Divincenzo, Golden State Warriors
Donte Divincenzo is averaging 8 points, 3 assists, and 4 rebounds this season. However, numbers don't tell the whole story in Donte's case. Despite putting up seemingly average numbers, Donte's impact on the Golden State Warriors has been nothing short of phenomenal. He's a calming presence capable of running the second unit, as well as fitting in with the starters when required. He's the Warriors' best point-of-attack (POA) defender, along with Kuminga and Wiggins. Additionally, Donte has been super clutch throughout the season as well, hitting quite a few big shots down the stretch for the Warriors. Overall, you can't expect more from Donte, he's been the best pick-up for the Warriors this season.
Overall score: 10/10
Jonathon Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
Jonathan Kuminga is averaging 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists this season. He started the season off the bench and did not get any time in the rotation. However, injuries to JaMychal Green and Andrew Wiggins saw Kuminga get significant minutes. Kuminga has made the absolute most of the opportunity he got, and is by far the Golden State Warriors' best POA defender. Kuminga faced off against Kyrie Irving, Ja Morant, and Demar Derozan and did an astounding job against all of them. He's playing well within the rhythm of the offense and offers the Golden State Warriors a great inside presence. Overall, Kuminga is definitely living up to the lottery-pick status hype he was drafted with.
Overall score: 10/10
In short, the Golden State Warriors' main rotation of eight players has definitely had decent seasons. However, health remains a major concern for this team as their bench depth is weak, having lost Otto Porter, Gary Payton II, and Nemanja Bjelica during the offseason.