Through seven games, the Golden State Warriors have had their fair share of ups and downs. Superstar Stephen Curry has continued his run as one of the best players of this generation, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green have put in strong performances even in their late 30s, and Jonathan Kuminga has been a revelation after finally negotiating a contract to return to the team.
While there are many positives, one potential negative for the Warriors to begin the season has been Al Horford. He did come in at age 39 with the expectation that he wouldn’t play back-to-back games or be a top contributor, but so far, Horford hasn’t had the initial impact many expected.
But while the early-season questions on Horford might worry some fans, especially considering the team’s relative lack of any strong big man depth, there is another player head coach Steve Kerr could turn to, as though only in his second year, Quinten Post has been playing well on this iteration of the team.
Most recently, the Warriors were urged to give Post more minutes. While he’s only played limited time, Post has started three contests and has looked like an improvement over his rookie campaign last year.
“Even with the addition of Al Horford, which looked slated to cut into the rookie’s minutes, Post should be in consideration to get into the rotation even more than he has been,” Jack Simone wrote for BlueManHoop.com on Post’s ‘clear cut’ case for more minutes. “So, if he can improve to the point where Steve Kerr has to find time for him to be on the court, it would be a real luxury.”
In his 12.7 minutes per game, Post is currently averaging four points and 3.6 rebounds on only 40.7% shooting.
Quinten Post Could Take Horford’s Role
Though still developing, Post offers a lot for the Warriors, and so far, that has been shown in his minutes with Green.
“In 68 minutes on the court together this season, Post and Green have a 34.1 net rating,” Simone wrote. “Included in that rating are a 122.63 offensive rating and an 88.49 defensive rating.”
The sample size is small, but in the first seven games of the season, Post has taken a jump that perhaps many weren’t expecting after his so-so rookie season. His growth was on full display in his 12-point, eight-rebound game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
“In that game, Post played 24:43 and shot an impressive 4-of-7 from beyond the arc,” Simone wrote. “It was the most minutes he’s played in a game so far this season, and he made the most of his court time. He finished as a +34 in that game, too.”
Obviously, there is still a lot of room to grow, but putting in a young player like Post in one of the oldest lineups in the league is good for both parties. The veterans of Curry, Butler, and Green will fill in the gaps for the still-developing big man, while his versatility and energy would come as a big help for the aging stars.
However, there is still the Horford dilemma, and though he hasn’t been as impactful as many expected or hoped, he remains a valuable asset for the Warriors.
“That said, in a year where that was projected to be the clear-cut case, (Post has) still managed to prove that he deserves a share of the playing time at the center position,” Simone added. “Post looks ready to play more consistent minutes for the Warriors this season.”
Warriors Big Men Through The First Seven Games
As Simone wrote, the rise of a player like Post only means good things for Golden State. Seven games in, Horford isn’t looking like the player who won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2024, but that’s reasonable at his age. The Warriors didn’t bring him in to play 35 minutes a game, and so far, they aren’t doing that with any of their centers.
Kerr made the surprise decision on opening night to start Kuminga and Green in the frontcourt, and it’s worked out well for them. So far, Post, Horford, and Jackson-Davis are combining for a total of just 42.2 minutes per night, with the latter two each missing multiple games, rest for Horford, and a coach’s decision for Jackson-Davis.
Post is the only one of the three who has suited up in each game, and is the only one who has started this season.
In a recent ‘Report Card‘ by Sports Illustrated on the Warriors roster through the first two weeks of the season, the three centers each received vastly different grades. Post got an A+, with his Clippers game and team-high net rating cited as the reasons why. Horford was a D+ due to his second-lowest net rating and limited action, while Jackson-Davis wasn’t given a grade because of his lack of minutes.
The Warriors have found some success playing without a seven-footer, but as the season goes on, they’ll need to establish at least some hierarchy for who can come in late-game and both defend the paint and spread the floor.
For now, Post remains a good option, even though he probably wasn’t at the top of fans’ list to become the leading center for the Warriors when the season began.
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