Assessing every Golden State player’s performance from the team’s 119-101 win over Charlotte.
The Golden State Warriors got back in the win column on Monday night, beating the Charlotte Hornets 119-101. It wasn’t the cleanest game, but it was a win … and it got the Dubs to the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
Now let’s grade the players who got it done. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: true-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Monday’s games, league-average TS was 57.4%.
Moses Moody
21 minutes, 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 1-for-6 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, 3-for-3 free throws, 34.2% TS, +11
A really strong defensive game for Moody, who was also quite active on the glass. Didn’t do a lot to score the ball, though, and just didn’t make all that much of an impact.
Grade: C+
Jimmy Butler III
31 minutes, 13 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, 3-for-7 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, 6-for-6 free throws, 67.4% TS, +15
It wasn’t the most dynamic game for Butler, but the fact that the Warriors looked like a decent team when Steph Curry sat made me tempted to give Butler an A+. Seeing Saturday’s game and then this one really made it clear just how different the team is with Butler.
Grade: B
Draymond Green
28 minutes, 16 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 4 fouls, 6-for-15 shooting, 2-for-6 threes, 2-for-2 free throws, 50.4% TS, +20
A very strong Green game. His defense was exceptional, he was a force rebounding the ball, and he had a great playmaking game. He also had a strong scoring game … even though he’s not super efficient, it opens up the court for everyone when he acts like an offensive weapon and puts pressure on the defense.
Grade: A
Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds, best plus/minus on the team.
Brandin Podziemski
32 minutes, 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 6-for-16 shooting, 4-for-11 threes, 3-for-4 free throws, 53.5% TS, +17
What a game for Podz. He helped the Warriors narrowly win the rebounding battle against a much larger team, and his defense, energy, playmaking, and shotmaking were critical all night long. He brings so much toughness to the lineup, and watching Podziemski and Butler share the court is a joy.
Grade: A
Steph Curry
30 minutes, 21 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 6-for-14 shooting, 3-for-9 threes, 6-for-8 free throws, 59.9% TS, +13
It’s not everyday that you see Curry miss two free throws. Weird! But it was otherwise a masterful game for quarterback Curry, who set up teammates all night long, dictated the offense, and scored when the team needed him.
Grade: A-
Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.
Gary Payton II
10 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 fouls, 4-for-7 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, 64.3% TS, +6
Payton had a strong game, but that’s not what we’re concerned with. He took a violent hit to the face in the third quarter, and was down for many minutes, before leaving the court dripping blood. It was a scary moment, but thankfully he seems to be okay.
Gary Payton II in good spirits postgame. Bandage on his nose, but says “I’m straight.”
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) March 4, 2025
Grade: A-/please be okay
Buddy Hield
31 minutes, 22 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 8-for-14 shooting, 5-for-9 threes, 1-for-1 free throws, 76.2% TS, +9
Hield saved the day for the Warriors late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter. When no one else could shoot, he rained in some threes and turned a close game into an easy win. It was a reminder as to how good he can be when he’s on.
Grade: A+
Post-game bonus: Led the team in points.
Kevon Looney
14 minutes, 4 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 2 fouls, 2-for-4 shooting, 50.0% TS, +4
Always size and rebounds and interior toughness with Looney. Some great passes in this game, too.
Grade: B+
Gui Santos
19 minutes, 0 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 0-for-3 shooting, 0-for-3 threes, 0.0% TS, -3
Not a good statistical game for Santos, but the defense and energy are always present. There’s a reason he played so many minutes even though it wasn’t his best work.
Grade: C
Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.
Quinten Post
17 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 2-for-6 shooting, 2-for-3 threes, 50.0% TS, -2
Post hasn’t really figured out how to score inside the arc yet in the NBA. All I’ll say is that when that element of his game starts to come together, then watch out.
Grade: B
Kevin Knox II
2 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1-for-2 shooting, 50.0% TS, 0 +/-
Just a little garbage time for Knox, after being in the rotation briefly for the last few games.
Grade: Incomplete
Trayce Jackson-Davis
2 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 0 +/-
We hadn’t seen TJD in a while, so nice getting him back on the court.
Grade: Incomplete
Pat Spencer
2 minutes, 2 points, 1-for-1 shooting, 100.0% TS, 0 +/-
And a little Spencer to round out the garbage time crew.
Grade: Incomplete
Monday’s inactives: Taran Armstrong, Jonathan Kuminga, Jackson Rowe