The Golden State Warriors opened preseason play on Sunday night with a familiar matchup — hosting the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center. The stars might have been in street clothes — no LeBron James, Luka Doncic, or Austin Reaves — but for Golden State, this was still a meaningful first look at a reloaded roster.
The Warriors walked away with a 111-103 win, and while preseason results rarely matter, this one offered real glimpses of what’s ahead — from Al Horford’s steady veteran impact to Moses Moody’s confidence on the wing.
Steve Kerr Explains His Lineup Decision
GettyGolden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left) and superstar point guard Stephen Curry (right).
After the game, Steve Kerr broke down why he went with his specific starting five: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Moody, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green.
It’s the same group that went 16-3 down the stretch last season — a unit that found rhythm and spacing together. But Kerr made it clear this isn’t a permanent shift toward Green logging heavy minutes at center.
“It doesn’t mean Draymond is going to be logging heavy minutes at the five,” Kerr told reporters via Anthony Slater. “We came off the bench with three centers tonight. So, if we start that way, it still allows Draymond to get off the big, hulking centers as the game goes on.”
Why It Matters for the Warriors
Even with Green anchoring small-ball units over the years, Kerr is adapting. The Warriors can’t lean on that lineup for 82 games anymore — not with Green at 35, not with a frontcourt that now features real size.
Adding Horford gives Kerr flexibility. The veteran big can space the floor, direct traffic defensively, and let Green roam as a help defender instead of absorbing punishment at the rim. It’s the kind of stabilizing frontcourt balance Golden State lacked a year ago.
Then there’s Quinten Post, who hit 40.8 percent from deep last season, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, who’s quietly emerging as a rotation piece. Those additions mean Kerr has options — and depth — that can keep the Warriors fresher and less predictable.
Draymond Green’s Fit and the Bigger Picture
The Warriors have long leaned on Green as a small-ball center, but even Kerr knows that can’t be the plan every night anymore. The 35-year-old remains the team’s emotional anchor, but Golden State now has the depth to manage his workload more carefully.
With veterans like Horford and young bigs such as Post and Jackson-Davis available, Kerr has more flexibility than he’s had in years. It’s about finding the right balance — keeping Green fresh for the moments that matter most.
This preseason isn’t about reinventing the Warriors, just refining them. And for Kerr, that starts with making sure his best defender is still at his best when the real games begin.
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