"You're denigrating Curry, Draymond and Klay by saying they can just step in and be championship players" - NBA analyst asserts Warriors have built a remarkable legacy with their superstar trio
The Golden State Warriors trio of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson have won four championships together. All three were drafted by Golden State and fans are hoping young stars Jordan Poole, James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody also develop in a similar fashion.
NBA analyst Matt Steinmetz shared that he believes comparing the Warriors' young core diminishes the legacy of their superstar trio.
Speaking on his radio show, "Steiny & Guru," Steinmetz said:
"You guys are so used to seeing Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, who are three of the most incredible players in the history of the game and the Warriors happen to draft Wiseman, Kuminga, Moody - it's like they're just gonna come in and - they're 20 years old."
"You're denigrating Curry, Draymond, and Klay by saying 'oh, well they can just step in and be championship players'. You think it's easy? It's not easy! What's Suggs doing down in Orlando? Who knows? They're not winning. That's the problem, this isn't Orlando, Kuminga, you don't get to just play because we stink, so which way do you want it?"
Several NBA analysts have suggested that Golden State should move on from Draymond and Klay when their contracts expire. Steinmetz's comments serve as a reminder that players need to develop to become championship players.
Watch Matt Steinmetz's full comments on the Golden State Warriors below:
"You're denegrating Curry, Draymond, and Klay by saying [the young guys] can just step in and be championship players... it's not easy!"
@SteinmetzNBA on @SteinyGuru957 🗣️ https://t.co/aYUsLanWYN
Will the Warriors move on from Green and Thompson?
Besides Curry, Green and Thompson are the two most vital pieces in the Golden State Warriors team. With both players' contracts set to expire soon, some believe that the front office should move on from the two. This particularly holds true for Green, following his recent altercation with teammate Jordan Poole.
TMZ obtained the video of the altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole at practice
tmz.com/videos/2022-10… https://t.co/k02BGsBo8G
Golden State has continued to draft incredibly well and people think they can replace Green and Thompson's production with cheaper alternatives. While the organization has young talent with a very high upside, it is hard to envision them reaching that level over the next two years, especially defensively.
Green is a former Defensive Player of the Year and remains among the best defenders in the league. His playmaking ability is also cruical to the Warriors' brand of basketball.
Thompson, on the other hand, was one of the best 3-and-D players prior to his injuries. While he hasn't fully looked like his old self, he can still defend better than most of his teammates. After the team missed the playoffs in both seasons Thompson was sidelined, they won their fourth title after his return from injury.
While moving on from Green and Thompson in favor of younger and cheaper alternatives sounds nice in theory, it will also be a big risk for the franchise. After so much success in the last eight years, fans may not buy the idea of a situation where the team is not competitive for a few years.
It might be better for Golden State to keep their title core together for as long as possible.
The Golden State Warriors are up against Eastern Conference heavyweights the Miami Heat on Oct. 28.