Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Thursday, January 23rd.
In today’s Dub Hub:
- Steve Kerr says he plans to give Warriors’ rookie Quinten Post more playing time after solid performance in Wednesday’s 123-117 loss vs. Kings.
- Draymond Green addresses his apology to former Warrior Jordan Poole on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show.
- Heat suspend Jimmy Butler for two games, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Golden State Warriors squandered an 18-point lead in Wednesday night’s 123-117 loss to the Sacramento Kings. The Kings took advantage of the Warriors’ lack of offensive firepower with aggressive double teams on Stephen Curry that forced the ball out of his hands.
As a response to that, head coach Steve Kerr turned to rookie second-round pick Quinten Post, utilizing his stretch five capabilities as an outlet for Curry. Post made the most of his 15 minutes on the floor, coming through with some timely shots down the stretch that caught Kerr’s attentions when it comes to a role on the rotation.
Steve Kerr said he plans to give Quinten Post more minutes in near future
“Playing with a space big is a luxury…He changes the look out there. He can hit a 3. He can pass. You saw him battling Sabonis. It’s a different look and I’d like to give him some time.” pic.twitter.com/4ecF7HQfvZ
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 23, 2025
Post finished the night with 5 points on 1-of-4 shooting from three while adding six rebounds. Curry, who was held to just 11 shot attempts but still managed to dish out 12 assists, acknowledged this was his first time sharing the court with Post. However, he outlined the benefits of playing alongside a stretch five which could be something the Warriors continue to build on moving forward.
Here is Steph Curry on Quinten Post and the benefit of playing with a stretch center
“You have a counter to aggressive defenses that want to take the ball out of my hands…Try to create advantage off his presence — or a shooter’s presence at the five. It definitely helps.” pic.twitter.com/nkJTPn8BHN
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 23, 2025
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, January 23rd:
Warriors News:
Quinten Post explains the learning process of playing alongside Steph Curry
Quinten Post on learning to play with Steph Curry: “I think that’s kind of being a rookie. You just kind of have to figure that out. I mean, obviously what Steph has done for his organization — It’s kind of his organization. I just have to fit in and I’ll figure it out.” pic.twitter.com/5YpRjy7X4j
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) January 23, 2025
Warriors turn to rookie Quinten Post in search for offensive help next to Steph Curry | The Athletic
The Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic is the stretch center most often floated externally and internally. They’ve discussed him and the dynamics at play, including his $21.4 million contract for next season that could theoretically be rerouted in the summer, if necessary. Vucevic will be in Chase Center on Thursday night with the Bulls in town. He is averaging 20.3 points and making 41 percent of his nearly five 3s per game in what has been a rebound season.
Chicago has been willing to discuss Vucevic, but the price tag has so far been deemed too steep, league sources said, which is typically the case until the deadline is within about 72 hours. We’ll see if the Warriors get any type of transactional business done in the weeks ahead, but their coach and star point guard are making clear the benefit of a stretch center. For now, that’ll have to be lived through the inexperienced Post.
What we learned as Warriors blow 18-point lead in ugly loss to Kings | NBC Sports Bay Area
Since being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Warriors, Dennis Schröder had played 17 games for his new team and had been in the starting lineup every game — until Wednesday night in Sacramento. Coach Steve Kerr made multiple changes to the short-handed Warriors starting lineup, and the biggest was sending Schröder to the bench.
Schroder wasn’t the first Warrior off the bench either. Moses Moody and Trayce Jackson-Davis already had taken their sweatpants off before Schröder and Lindy Waters III received their first minutes of the night.
The change didn’t matter. Schröder’s five turnovers topped all Warriors. He was a minus-5 in 21 minutes off the bench with seven points, three rebounds and five assists.
This isn’t a sample-size excuse anymore. The Warriors have a Schröder-sized issue on their hands that has to be addressed.
A 3-Team Julius Randle Trade Idea with Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls | Bleacher Report
Warriors get:
Nikola Vučević (from Bulls)
Patrick Williams (from Bulls)
Torrey Craig (from Bulls)
Talen Horton-Tucker (from Bulls)
$9.1 million trade exception (Gary Payton II)
Draymond Green discusses his apology to Jordan Poole on the latest episode of his podcast
@Money23Green explains apology to Jordan Poole pic.twitter.com/c1ncbN1v1W
— The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis (@DraymondShow) January 22, 2025
NBA News:
Heat suspend Jimmy Butler for two games after missed flight | ESPN
“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for two games for [a] continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team, including missing today’s team flight to Milwaukee,” the team said in a statement.
Butler had planned to join the Heat on Wednesday night after missing the flight, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. Now, Miami will be playing without him during its two-game road trip — Thursday at the Milwaukee Bucks and Saturday at the Brooklyn Nets.
Victor Wembanyama navigates a whirlwind week in Paris ahead of Spurs-Pacers games | NBA
On Thursday, Wembanyama won’t be out and about. There won’t be socializing. He’ll be locked in on the game, as he always is on game days. There’s a trip to the Eiffel Tower — Wembanyama has been there before — with the rest of the Spurs on Friday, then another Spurs-Pacers game on Saturday and a flight back to the U.S. on Sunday.
“Getting the chance to see him day in and day out, getting a chance to see his work ethic and getting a chance to see and know who he is, it’s just different,” Spurs guard Chris Paul said. “It’s different to see his humility, to see his work ethic, to see how happy he is to be here, to be able to play in front of his family and friends, people who raised him.”
Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores career-high 54 points in win vs. Jazz
All 54 of SGA’s points tonight ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/coCMq6hoFW
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) January 23, 2025
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Player grades: Warriors vs. Kings
Gui Santos
23 minutes, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 6-for-9 shooting, 4-for-5 threes, 88.9% TS, 0 +/-
I don’t know how the minutes are going to break down when Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Kyle Anderson return. But it seems pretty clear that Santos has to stay in the rotation right now. He’s playing strong defense and quickly learning how to avoid fouling and rookie mistakes. He’s shooting 12-for-18 from three-point range. He makes good passes and plays within the offense. And he seems to always be the hardest-working person on the court.
Did the Dubs find something???
Grade: A+
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