Who's the Golden State Warriors No. 2 scorer?

At age 37, Stephen Curry stays one of many sport’s elite No. 1 shot creators and scorers. If there have been doubters, Curry shut them up in the course of the Paris Olympics.

However who’s the Warriors No. 2 scorer?

The Warriors do not have one. For years it was Klay Thompson, however he is in Dallas now (and he hasn’t been that man for a number of of years anyway). Draymond Inexperienced continues to be an elite defender and passing huge man within the half-court, however he is by no means been a No. 2 scoring possibility.

So who’s going to tackle that position? The Warriors have choices, however each a kind of comes with questions.

Let us take a look at these choices.

JONATHAN KUMINGA

Kuminga is the almost certainly individual to fill that position, he was the Warriors third-leading scorer a season in the past at 16.1 factors a sport, (behind Curry and Thompson). Nevertheless, the 22-year-old getting into his fourth season must take an enormous step ahead to make {that a} actuality.

That has to begin along with his capturing — final season Kuminga shot 62.1% inside 10 ft, and 30.8% outdoors that line. Greater than something Kuminga must take and make extra 3-pointers — he has averaged simply 2.2 makes an attempt a sport every of the previous two seasons, and final season he knocked down simply 32.1% of these pictures.

Within the Warriors system (even modified some to higher match his talent set), Golden State wants Kuminga to house the ground as a shooter plus be extra of a shot creator for others.

Kuminga additionally has to stay targeted — he’s eligible for a contract extension by way of Oct. 21, however the sides reportedly should not significantly near getting a deal achieved. If it would not come collectively earlier than the season begins, Kuminga shall be taking part in for his subsequent contract all season lengthy, and whereas that may be a motivation he cannot let it turn out to be a distraction.

Kuminga is on the entrance of the road, he’ll get an opportunity to be the Warriors No. 2 possibility. Will he seize it?

ANDREW WIGGINS

Golden State wants Wiggins to step up whether or not or not Kuminga does. Desires of the Warriors returning to being one of many prime groups within the West hinges partially on Wiggins returning to his 2022 type, significantly his playoff type for that season.

In 2022, Wiggins was an All-Star Starter and averaged 17.2 factors a sport, capturing 39.3% on 5.5 3-point makes an attempt a sport. Final season, these numbers fell to 13.2 factors a sport, 3.6 makes an attempt from 3 a sport, and capturing 35.8% on these. Wiggins has been famously inconsistent over the course of his NBA profession and that has continued in Golden State — the Warriors want that to vary. They want the very best of Wiggins nightly.

Wiggins shall be given the possibility to have the ball in his fingers extra, however will the up-and-down 11-year veteran do something with that probability?

TRADE FOR ANOTHER STAR

Golden State tried arduous this summer time to commerce for Paul George and, later, Lauri Markkanen. Neither of these offers for a high-level secondary shot creator obtained significantly shut.

The Warriors is not going to cease making an attempt.

If — in actuality, when —a major shot creator who can play subsequent to Curry turns into obtainable, significantly a wing or energy ahead, the Warriors will leap within the combine. They’ve sufficient first-round draft picks and promising younger gamers on the roster to entice groups, it simply comes all the way down to what different groups are prepared to supply and what the participant desires (for instance, Markkanen did not wish to depart Utah). This doesn’t imply the Warriors will give all the pieces up for Zach LaVine or Brandon Ingram — two gamers who can be found — Golden State will look forward to higher choices.

A technique or one other, the Warriors will push for that second star as a result of they informed Stephen Curry they might get one and be aggressive so long as he stays with the group — and he signed a contract extension this summer time.

“It at all times has been and nonetheless is a objective of mine to be a Warrior for all times, to remain aggressive all through that course of,” Curry stated on media day. “I am very assured within the reality of being right here and being a related successful group is feasible. Till I am confirmed in any other case, that is the way in which I am transferring ahead.”

WARRIORS FANTASY PERSPECTIVE

From Raphielle Johnson of NBC Sports:

Who’s the Warriors’ No. 2 possibility is an important query for the Warriors to reply, particularly in a extremely aggressive Western Convention. For his struggles at numerous phases of final season, Klay Thompson was nonetheless that man. Now that he is gone, a large gap opens for somebody to fill. Given his manufacturing final season, Jonathan Kuminga must be that man. He averaged 16.1 factors per sport on 52.9% capturing from the sphere. Nevertheless, I doubt his capability to attain greater than across the basket. In accordance with the NBA’s monitoring information, 64.1% of Kuminga’s discipline objective makes an attempt have been inside 10 ft of the basket, and he shot 32.8% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers.

So, I am going to roll the cube on Brandin Podziemski. As a rookie, he averaged 9.2 factors on 45.4% capturing from the sphere. To say he’ll be Golden State’s second-leading scorer is to count on a major leap in manufacturing. Nevertheless, with the Warriors wanting Podziemski to extend his 3-point makes an attempt to 8-10 per sport and a doable place within the beginning lineup, he had a wonderful alternative in entrance of him. Much like his season at Santa Clara, I believe Podziemski is able to reap the benefits of and be an asset for fantasy managers this season.

From Ameer Tyreefrom the NBC Sports fantasy team:

Stephen Curry is splash sibling-less now that Klay Thompson has departed to affix the Dallas Mavericks forward of the 2024-25 season. The sharpshooter performed an important position for the Golden State Warriors because the group’s secondary scorer for years, however now a brand new participant must step up because the Dubs’ second possibility. However who ought to fill Thompson’s sneakers?

Essentially the most evident possibility is Jonathan Kuminga. The fourth-year swingman stepped up into a bigger position for a number of stints in 2023-24 and did not have an issue ramping up his productiveness. His averages of 16.1 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and a pair of.2 assists solely obtained a modest enhance within the 46 video games he began. Kuminga solely began in three video games with out Thomson final season. He posted spectacular averages of 21.0 factors, 5.0 rebounds, and a pair of.3 assists per contest in these outings whereas capturing 58.7% from the sphere.

Kuminga was a prime 100 fantasy participant in his newest marketing campaign and outdid the likes of Naz Reid, Mike Conley, and Jrue Vacation whereas narrowly trailing the Utah Jazz’s John Collins. He has the potential to blossom into a way more dependable possibility if he can often match the 15.3 pictures per sport he took within the video games he suited up with out Thompson in his third season. The pattern dimension is small, however Kuminga has all of the instruments to climb draft boards quickly.