The Golden State Warriors used nine different starting units in as many games between Nov. 25 and Dec. 15, partly due to injuries and partly because head coach Steve Kerr experimented with various combinations.
The last game in that stretch saw them introduce a new lineup of Stephen Curry, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post, which Kerr promised to persist with going forward — barring injuries.
Kerr kept his word Thursday as the same unit took the floor against the Phoenix Suns. The future Hall of Famer was so committed to the lineup that he played them together for nearly 10 minutes, with Post — who averaged 17.2 minutes entering the game — clocking 27 minutes and staying on the floor for most of the fourth quarter.
Warriors’ New Starting 5
Through two games, the lineup isn’t exactly working.
In 19 total minutes together, the new Warriors starting unit has been outscored by four points, while allowing its opponents to shoot 16-of-31 from the floor (52%) and 8-of-15 from three (53%). It has only marginally won the rebounding battle, 17-15.
Even offensively, the lineup isn’t proving to be much of an upgrade. Kerr believes it offers better spacing with Curry, Post and Moody’s long-range shooting, and Green and Butler’s playmaking. However, the lineup is shooting a meagre 45% from the floor, which obviously pales in comparison to the 52% it is conceding.
One of the reasons Jonathan Kuminga fell out of the starting unit is his inability to space the floor. Kerr has repeatedly stressed that, in Kuminga, Butler and Green, the Warriors simply can’t afford to start three non-shooters.
Kuminga Back in Rotation
The Congolese forward completely fell out of the rotation recently, earning three healthy DNPs in the past week. That changed Thursday, as he came off the bench for 10 minutes. The fifth-year forward finished with two points while shooting 1-of-5 from the floor, but Kerr was pleased with the intensity he brought in his 10-minute spurt.
“He was good,” Kerr said of Kuminga, via The Athletic’s Nick Friedell. “We wanted him to get out there and use his speed and athleticism, set screens, dives. He had a good pass to Gui (Santos) in the first half from the pocket, and it’s good to see back out there. He’s handled himself really well this last week, and I wanted to reward that.”
Kuminga was thrilled to just play competitive basketball again.
“It felt good,” said the former Warriors first-round pick. “I feel like I fit perfect with them. I’ve been playing with them for a couple years now. I know how they play and I know where to be when they’re playing when we’re on the floor.”
“Working out every day,” Kuminga said of how he kept himself ready. “Staying sharp, watching film. I watch them play every day. I think that’s the biggest thing. Just try to stay in shape and everything will just handle itself.”
Kuminga is expected to be moved once he becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15. Some analysts have criticized Kerr for depreciating his trade value by not showcasing him. Since Kuminga has a Team Option for 2026-27, he is viewed as a valuable trade chip around the league, per insider Marc Stein.
The Warriors (13-15) have lost three games in a row, going 2-5 in December.
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