Category: Basketball

PHOENIX — Nick U’Ren sits up as he dives into his story. His sheepish aura is gone.

“So we had gotten done with free agency,” he said, the excitement of this story visible in his stiffened posture, how his hands came alive as he talked.

“We traded for Alyssa Thomas. We traded for Satou Sabally. And I’m exhausted. I told our assistant general manager Fleur McIntyre and Preston Fawcett, he’s our director of player personnel, to ‘invite whoever you want to training camp.’ And they found Monique Akoa Makani — who never stepped foot in this country before she came to our training camp and steps into starting for a finals team — and Kat Westbeld. I wouldn’t have known who they were. They found them.”

He pointed to the other end of the court, watching the Mercury preparing for the WNBA Finals, identifying Fawcett in a white hoodie, then precisely pointed to McIntyre, sitting next to a player. It’s important to U’Ren their names are mentioned and their contributions understood. He wants the focus off him. So he dives into the brilliance of AT. He fawns over the immense talent of Sabally, the pedigree of Kahleah Copper, the heart of coach Nate Tibbetts. All of them veiled story pitches, anything to re-direct the spotlight.

But in doing so, U’Ren underscores the philosophy he employs and the fabric that has the Mercury, surprisingly, in the WNBA Finals. They’re still breathing, courtesy of the new seven-game format, a win from shifting the pressure of this series onto Las Vegas. But that Phoenix is here, in his second season, serves as proof of concept.

“He’s seen a lot of winning,” said Bob Myers, who as president of basketball operations of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors was U’Ren’s boss for five years. “He cares. He was very, very studious. How many people worked on a bench and in the front office? I think it’s kind of a rare combo. So it gives them a great understanding of an organization, how it operates. There’s an authenticity to him that makes him someone people want to follow. And he’s very humble. … It’s really been an awesome kind of validation of his process.”

It started with Nick, assembling the pieces – a brand new roster with stars willing to take a chance and depth off the bench. Nate took that roster and laid the foundation for a new culture – one built on accountability, belief and joy. And together, they gave us a chance to… pic.twitter.com/XSwUVFWoyH

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 29, 2025

Home will feel different this time for U’Ren. The arena will look the same, plastered in purple and orange, like it did when he was a diehard Suns fan as a kid. The X-Factor, the Mercury’s boisterous faithful, will bubble with a familiar raucousness, like it did when Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter had the city on tilt.

For U’Ren, the Tempe, Ariz., product and the pride of McClintock High, Wednesday marks a seminal moment. The chills may not last long, as the sense of honor is tempered by the anxiety of the Mercury’s 0-2 hole with one of the all-time greats on the other side for the Las Vegas Aces. But this is why he came home. This is why he gave up his seat in a glory franchise in Golden State, leaving the prestige and opportunity of the NBA. For a moment like this. Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, with his parents in the crowd, in the gym of his childhood, with a team he constructed. For the love of the Valley.

It took him only two years to put together a team, on the court and off, worthy of championship contention. But it took 20 years of development, of grinding, of faith, of soaking up every ounce of wisdom he could from his Hall of Fame senseis. They called him Boy Wonder in Golden State. It’s no wonder the boy from Phoenix has come up golden.

“He’s just so rock solid,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “His emotional IQ is off the charts. He’s really thoughtful and process-driven. He just does things the right way.”

The recruitment of Alyssa Thomas earlier this year came down to basketball philosophy.

Everything else about Phoenix, Thomas was on board. Mercury legend Jennifer Gillom was one of Thomas’ coaches in Connecticut, so she was well aware of the culture and the legacy of WNBA basketball in Phoenix. Thomas also played with USA Basketball, so she’d seen the fancy new practice digs.

But her primary concern was how she’d fit into the Mercury’s system and their vision for maximizing her talents. U’Ren hired Tibbetts in 2024, in part because of how Tibbetts saw the game. They knew each other from Tibbetts’ days in Portland, a common foe of the Warriors in the Western Conference. Tibbetts also interviewed for a job with the Warriors in 2018. But their philosophies overlap.

Skill over traditional size — with shooting, passing and length being premium traits. U’Ren and Tibbetts want size, but it matters positionally more than just throwing a big out there for the sake of having one. They cherish high-IQ basketball players who can make quick decisions, even while moving. Defensive pressure and intensity cover most ills and, especially important, fuel transition offense.

Oh, and of course, take advantage of the 3-pointer.

“Coming here, one of my very first meetings with Nate, he was like, ‘I need you to get some more up.’ And I don’t think a coach has ever told me that,” Copper said. “I played in the middy, shot a couple of 3s. It wasn’t really my role. But I always wanted to grow my game, and that was the first conversation I had with Nate. … It’s times on the sideline where he’s like, ‘Shoot it!’ And I’m like, ‘All right, bet.’”

U’Ren’s understanding of basketball begins with Kerr, who took a 51-win team in 2014, injected his philosophy of skill and motion into an offense led by Steph Curry, and won four championships. One of the key pieces of his offense was Draymond Green, the highly skilled, undersized big who doubles as a point-forward.

Yeah, they sold Thomas.

“I don’t think he gets enough credit for how he put this team together,” Thomas said of U’Ren.

“From Day 1, they made it clear what they were trying to build. Yeah, it was a match made in heaven for me.”

The construction of this team, and the success it’s endured so fast, is validation for U’Ren. How many people have a dream, get to learn from the best and get to put what they learned into action — and do it at home?

The journey to this point got legs back in 2014. U’Ren was in the weight room of the Suns training facility. As an intern for Phoenix, spending every waking hour in the facility, he was working out when he saw journalist David Aldridge on the screen and Kerr’s name in the headline.

U’Ren put down the dumbbells and affixed his attention to the television. That’s how he learned Kerr was taking the Warriors head coaching job. That’s how the journey began, at least in his mind.

Kerr was the general manager of the Suns when he hired U’Ren as an intern. Kerr was sifting through a stack of resumes, loaded with Ivy Leaguers, but chose U’Ren because he remembered his face and work ethic from the Las Vegas Summer League. Kerr left the Suns in 2010. He said wherever he landed for his next job, he’d hire U’Ren to join him. Four years later, U’Ren wasn’t sure how serious Kerr was or how it would work out. But that day in the weight room, he allowed himself to envision his career starting in earnest.

Kerr honored his word. Taking a cue from his agent at the time, NFL executive-turned-agent Mike Tannenbaum, Kerr knew the perfect job for U’Ren. Tannenbaum told Kerr how former NFL coach Bill Parcells wouldn’t hire a typical administrative assistant but filled that seat with another young football mind. So Kerr hired his former intern with front office aspirations as his “special assistant.”

U’Ren checked emails, answered phones and managed the head coach’s calendar. He also helped with advanced scouting, was in charge of the video room and warmed up Shaun Livingston and others before games.

In his nine-year tenure with Golden State, U’Ren elevated from special assistant on the coaching staff to assistant general manager in the front office. But the ethos that shapes him as a GM, that he’s infused into the Mercury, happened in his first season with Kerr. It informed the perspective he uses to shape the franchise.

After the Warriors lost Game 2 of the 2015 NBA Finals to Cleveland in Oakland, U’Ren was coordinating the film for the staff. He had an idea.

Instead of continuing to match the size of the Cavaliers, who were basically playing two centers in Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson, U’Ren thought the Warriors should go small. Start small forward Andre Iguodala instead of center Andrew Bogut, from the outset, and see if the Cavaliers could keep up.

It wasn’t until the Warriors lost Game 3 that Luke Walton, a Golden State assistant at the time, decided to indulge U’Ren’s thinking. They had a film session, and Walton was on board. He took the idea to Kerr. The Warriors made the lineup change and won Game 4. Kerr told the media after the game the adjustment was U’Ren’s idea.

“He got all that press the next day,” Kerr said. “He was so embarrassed. All the stories were about how young he was. So we started calling him Boy Wonder.”

The Warriors stuck to the lineup and won Games 5 and 6, capturing their first of four championships under Kerr. Iguodala won Finals MVP, and U’Ren was etched into Warriors lore.

That story is important to him. Not because it was his idea. But because it embodies what he learned in his tenure with a dynasty and what he aimed to incorporate in his first time in the big chair.

“I mean this with my whole heart,” he said. “It’s easy for a kid like me to have an idea and throw it out there. But this story is about three things. One, Steve creating an environment where his, basically, secretary felt comfortable coming to the group with that idea. Two, Steve having the guts to do it on the biggest stage. That’s just nuts. And then, three, to shout me out like that. No one’s doing that. No one’s giving some kid credit, you know? That story is way more about Steve than me.”

The first recruitment of Sabally came in 2024, U’Ren’s first free agency as general manager. She was intrigued with Phoenix but wasn’t quite ready to make the change from the Dallas Wings, who drafted her No. 2 in 2020. She also wasn’t thrilled about playing for a first-time head coach. So she wanted to see how Tibbetts did in his first season.

But by 2025’s free agency period, she knew she wanted to leave. She also saw enough from Tibbetts. Most of all, Sabally was in pursuit of something more holistic — a coaching staff that would make her better, a franchise that wanted to win, and a work environment conducive to her mental flourishing.

“I wasn’t happy anymore,” she said. “And with basketball, you just need to have a certain happiness to really be able to perform on the highest level for so long. You need to be able to really come to work and enjoy it. … This was the perfect opportunity for me. It’s a family environment here.”

That’s the best thing U’Ren can hear. Because if he took anything from his time under Myers, it’s to value the people. It’s not only the best way to get them to produce. It’s also the way such a life-consuming, stressful, often-thankless job can be the kind of reward it needs to be.

That’s why U’Ren is pointing again. At forward Natasha Mack, his eyes rolling as he summarizes her incredible story. At guard Sami Whitcomb, and her propensity for being clutch and showing veteran leadership. At center Kalani Brown, who doesn’t play as often but is always ready when she’s called.

This heart-warming version of U’Ren speaks to the meaning of this accomplishment. He’s doling out credit like Oprah Winfrey did audience prizes, mushy about the people he’s come to cherish.

Don’t get it twisted. U’Ren, beneath his unassuming veneer, is an intense competitor. It’s required in the halls of a dynasty.

“I think he vents to me more than anybody of what he’s feeling,” Thomas said with a smile. “He thanks me a lot of times that I just allow him to get what he’s thinking off.”

It’s why the sentimentality may not last long Wednesday because he knows going down 0-3 is a death sentence in a seven-game series. But before he gets lost in competitive fervor, he’ll take a moment to let it all in. He spent nearly a decade in one of the great basketball eras of all time, cutting his teeth and crafting his approach. And he got to bring it all home.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Mercury, NBA, WNBA, Sports Business

2025 The Athletic Media Company

What excites Al Horford most about playing alongside ‘fun' Jonathan Kuminga originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

One of the main setbacks with Jonathan Kuminga’s fit in the Warriors’ offense is the spacing.

The addition of veteran center Al Horford hopes to help with that at times, although we didn’t get a good enough preview of the two on the floor together during Golden State’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

Still, Horford already sees the value in playing alongside Kuminga in his first season with the Warriors.

“I think it’s great. JK with his athleticism and the way that he moves, and how much pressure he generates on the rim, it’s going to be great,” Horford told reporters after practice Tuesday. “With me and him, I feel like I’ll be able to give him some space and he probably won’t always have an extra defender there. And if he does, then I’m going to be open and either I’m going to shoot it or we’re going to get a really good shot. So I think it’s really good.

“And he’s the type of player where it’s fun to play with a guy like that because the pace that he wants to play at and how he wants to attack the basket, I actually enjoy playing in that way. I know we played very little last game, but I’m sure we’ll continue to play more and more, and get more familiar with one another.”

In just a few weeks, Horford already has demonstrated the impact he can have on all his Warriors teammates.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, however, said he’s looking most forward to the combination of Horford and Kuminga.

“I think that’s a two-man combo that could make some sense,” Kerr told reporters last week. “With JK, we want to give him space when he’s got the ball. Al can do that. So, if JK’s at the four, Al’s at the five and we put shooters around those guys, that could be an interesting combination.”

It will be a case of trial by fire for the Warriors, but if Horford is a solution to the longtime concern of Kuminga’s fit, that’s certainly good news for Golden State.

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The 2025-26 fantasy basketball season is nearly here, and smart managers know that championships aren't won in the first three rounds—they're won by finding sleepers who outperform their ADP.

Which players currently being drafted after round 5 have legitimate top-50 upside? After analyzing the latest roster moves, injury reports, and playing time projections, we've identified five fantasy basketball sleepers for 2025-26 who could provide multiple rounds of value. From Myles Turner's move to Milwaukee to Matas Buzelis' expanded role in Chicago, these undervalued players represent some of the best draft values available.

Top Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Myles Turner, Bucks (Yahoo ADP: 50)

Following an offseason trade, Turner will find himself playing for his first team other than the Pacers, suiting up for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks parted ways with veteran Brook Lopez during the offseason, making way for Turner to slide straight into the starting lineup. While the decision by the Pacers was somewhat confusing, given the recent success, it does provide Turner with an opportunity to play without as much pressure. Having been the subject of constant trade rumors, Turner will now be looking to prove a lot of people wrong, including perhaps the Indiana brain trust.

Turner finished the 2024-25 season as the 50th-ranked player in 9-category leagues, averaging 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.2 three-pointers in 30.2 minutes per contest. If nothing else, Turner is likely to play minutes in the low to mid-30s this season, an upgrade on what he has been afforded in recent times. Despite losing both Lopez and Damian Lillard, the Bucks will almost certainly be looking to win as many games as possible in what is a weakened Eastern Conference. Assuming Turner can improve slightly across the board, it wouldn't be surprising to see him end the season as a borderline second-round player.

OG Anunoby, Knicks (Yahoo ADP: 66)

Despite a change in head coach, there is no reason to think Anunoby's role will change this season. While it is almost certainly guaranteed that the starters in New York will be scaled back, the playing time for someone like Anunoby should continue to hover in the mid-30s on most nights. The Knicks added some much-needed depth during the offseason, meaning although Anunoby should play a little less, it could also result in more games played across what promises to be another hard-fought season.

Anunoby is coming off arguably his best statistical season, during which he averaged career-high numbers in scoring and blocks. He finished with averages of 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 36.6 minutes per contest, sitting just inside the top 50 in 9-cat fantasy formats. There is no reason to think his production will change significantly, while in fact, he could be tasked with doing a little more on the offensive end if Mitchell Robinson is to replace Josh Hart in the starting lineup. Expect to see Anunoby flirting with the top 40 once again, providing managers with potentially two rounds of value.

Jakob Poeltl, Raptors (Yahoo ADP: 81)

Much like Anunoby, Poeltl is often overlooked in drafts, with this season being no different. While the 2024-25 season was one to forget for the Raptors, Poeltl provided the team with a reliable inside presence once again. With a healthy Brandon Ingram on the roster, things are looking up in Toronto. The Eastern Conference is wide open following significant injuries to Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana and Jayson Tatum in Boston. While the Raptors certainly don't have the deepest roster in the league, their top-end talent is intriguing.

Poeltl closed the most recent season as the 44th-ranked player in 9-cat, averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks, shooting 62.7 percent from the floor and 67.4 percent from the line. Although his block numbers fell slightly, his scoring, rebounds and steals all marked career highs. Based on the current roster, Poeltl has very little competition for minutes, meaning he could log in excess of 30 minutes per game for the first time in his career. Not unlike Turner, small increases across the board could see him nudge the top 30 once all is said and done. 

Ausar Thompson, Pistons (Yahoo ADP: 87)

After a promising rookie season, Thompson's 2024-25 season was delayed due to health concerns, with his first game coming in late November. His playing time was heavily monitored throughout the season, limiting him to just 22.5 minutes per game. The restrictions were a key factor when analyzing his production, preventing him from building any sort of momentum. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and it appears as though Thompson is fully healthy and ready to hit reset on his career. 

Despite the hurdles, Thompson's per-game numbers were encouraging, taking steps forward on both ends of the floor. He closed the season with averages of 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks, shooting 53.5 percent from the floor and 64.1 percent from the stripe. His twin brother, Amen Thompson, took massive strides forward during his sophomore season, providing fantasy managers with somewhat of a blueprint as to what Ausar might be capable of. Factoring in a 30 percent increase in playing time, Thompson is positioned to also take some big steps forward. Managers can typically grab him in the seventh or eighth round, a range that could be considered his floor moving forward. With a top-40 ceiling, there could be plenty of value to be found when it comes to drafting Thompson.

Matas Buzelis, Bulls (Yahoo ADP: 95)

On the whole, Buzelis put together a serviceable rookie season but finished outside the top 250 in 9-category formats. Taken with the 11th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Buzelis was considered someone who could potentially have an immediate impact for a Bulls team with little to no identity. From the outset, it was clear the coaching staff had different opinions, limiting him to single-digit minutes for basically the first month of the season. While it was another disappointing season for Chicago, there were moments of positivity, including the rise of Josh Giddey, the continued growth of Coby White, and eventually, the promise shown by Buzelis down the stretch.

When he was finally thrust into a meaningful role, Buzelis made the most of his opportunities. In 16 games over the final month, he averaged 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 1.3 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 26.8 minutes per contest, good enough for top-70 value. Common sense would indicate that he should be in the starting lineup come Opening Night, allowing him to play upwards of 28 minutes per game. Factor in added opportunities and skill development, and we have a player who could very well flirt with top-50 value for stretches throughout the season.

How Quinten Post already is learning from new Warriors teammate Al Horford originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Just a few weeks in, Al Horford already has made an impact on second-year Warriors center Quinten Post.

Post told reporters after practice Tuesday that he has been picking his new teammate’s brain and constantly asking him questions. The 25-year-old, coming off a solid rookie season, shared how taking notes from Horford can help elevate his game on both ends of the court in Year 2.

“Offensively right now we play a similar role in our system, being a spacer,” Post explained. “But he’s very good at looking for his own [shot]. He’s actually quite an aggressive player while also being a really good team player. I feel like I can definitely learn from him from where he picks his own spots to be aggressive. He’s very aggressive with his shots; he even attacks the rim out of those closeouts.

“And then defensively, he’s just very steady from what I’ve seen right now. He’s always in the right spots. Obviously, he’s in great shape. He’s athletic for 39. Definitely a lot to learn and I’m trying to see what he’s doing every day.”

From one sharpshooting big man to another, Post will take all the advice he can get from the 18-year veteran and five-time NBA All-Star.

Over the last three seasons, Horford has shot 46.9 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range on nearly five attempts per game.

As a rookie, Post shot 44.9 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from distance on 4.3 attempts per game.

But Post wants to provide the Warriors with more than just his shooting in his sophomore season, and Horford is the perfect player to lean on along his path toward becoming a versatile center in the league. And Horford already believes Post is on the right track.

“A very high IQ type player,” Horford said of Post on Tuesday. “[He] really understands how to play. Can really shoot the ball. I just think he’s in the process of finding his footing in the league. Being a part of this team and this group, he understands what he has to do. Since I’ve been here in the Bay Area, every time I come in, I see him working. He’s always working, whether it’s in the weight room or on the court. He is consistent with his work.

“He has the right tools to be successful because he listens, he works hard and you can already see some flashes on the floor with him.”

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The Lakers’ first practice of the week gave them hope of what they can look like whole when Marcus Smart takes the court.

Smart has been dealing with Achilles tendinopathy most of training camp and has been limited in practice. But coach JJ Redick said after practice Tuesday that Smart “did most of practice, including some live play."

Redick said LeBron James and Luka Doncic — along with Maxi Kleber (quad) and Gabe Vincent — did “modified, mostly individual work.”.

“Marcus participated in some live [practice] and then was out at the end,” Redick said. “Yeah he was awesome. He was awesome. He, I think given the workload of today, I was impressed that he was able to sustain his level of intensity for as long as he did.”

Redick said Doncic was out for “load management.” Then Redick laughed.

Smart has been one of the NBA’s better defenders over his career, winning defensive player of the year for the 2021-22 season while playing for the Boston Celtics and being named to the All-Defensive first team three times — 2019, 2020 and 2022.

Read more:With their big three out, Lakers work on 'championship habits' against Warriors

That will be a big part of his role with the Lakers, and during practice they got a glimpse of his defensive tenacity.

"Yeah, he guarded me a little bit at the first of practice,” Austin Reaves said. “You still feel that pressure. You feel the intensity that he brings on the defensive end, and that's going to be big for us. We need that. We need him to be the best version of himself. With that communication that he brings, especially defensively, he's been in the league a while. He knows how to win at the highest level. So, very excited to have him."

After the Washington Wizards bought out his contract, Smart received several calls from Doncic about joining the Lakers.

Smart eventually signed with the Lakers for two years and $11 million.

At practice Tuesday, Smart left an impression.

“He looked great. He was moving great,” Jarred Vanderbilt said. “But like I said, his main power is that he’s vocal. So being able to help the guys. Communicate, that’s a big part of defense also. Being physical is one of them, but also being vocal, being able to communicate. I think he does both at a very high level. So, he can definitely help us on that end of the floor.”

Vanderbilt is the Lakers’ other top defender, his versatility allowing him to guard multiple positions.

He was asked to envision what the Lakers' defense will be like with himself and Smart together on the court.

“Aw, man, just causing havoc,” Vanderbilt said. “Not only physically but just vocally. He’s a vocal guy as well, so it’s being the anchor of the defense, flying around, setting that tone defensively. Like, I’m excited. I can’t wait to share the court together.”

LeBron James ad

At some point after practice, the Lakers were asked if any one texted them about James’ cryptic post about “#TheSecondDecision” on Monday.

It left many wondering if James was talking about retiring.

He was not. It was about an ad for Hennessy that was posted on social media Tuesday morning.

“You guys are idiots,” Redick said when asked, laughing as he spoke. “We all knew it was an ad, right? No, I think most people that text me are also aware that it's probably an ad, so it wasn't. … Nobody was freaking out.”

Still, James is entering his NBA-record 23rd season.

"I just got a couple calls, like, 'what is this?'" Reaves said, laughing.

Rui Hachimura wanted to know what was going on.

So he contacted James just to be sure.

“I mean, [I got] a couple texts. But I texted him too,” Hachimura said. “But he was using a [weird] emoji. I don’t even know. I didn’t understand at all. But he loves to do that type of stuff. Surprises, right?”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Steve Kerr shares Jonathan Kuminga ‘concern' from Warriors' NBA preseason opener originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

If the Warriors are to reach their goals in the 2025-26 NBA season, Jonathan Kuminga figures to be a big reason why.

But, as Golden State coach Steve Kerr sees it, there’s still a sizable hurdle for Kuminga to clear: playing effectively with Warriors stars Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. And in Sunday’s 111-103 preseason win against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kerr wasn’t impressed.

“Well, there wasn’t much spacing, which is the big concern,” Kerr said of the Kuminga-Big Three lineup in his post-practice press conference Tuesday. “But we’ve got to continue to give them some looks.”

Kuminga finished with five points in 15 minutes on Sunday, days after signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract to remain with Golden State after a prolonged restricted free agency. However, the Warriors’ offense seemed to sputter when he shared the floor with the team’s other stars.

“It still feels to me like if we’re trying to play Jimmy, JK [and] Draymond, just from the other night, immediately…the spacing was not great,” Kerr said. “And it puts pressure on our offense to really have to execute. But it’s early in camp, too.”

Neither Kuminga, nor Green nor Butler, is considered to be a strong 3-point shooter, which limits how far the Warriors can stretch opposing defenses when they all are on the court. Kerr is hoping that the addition of center Al Horford will help solve that problem and let Kuminga find lineups to thrive in.

“I think Al kind of changes the equation here,” Kerr said. “I’m really intrigued to put Al and JK together with Draymond or Jimmy. That lineup makes perfect sense.”

Kerr added that the Warriors will continue to explore every option in an effort to unlock the 23-year-old Kuminga.

“If we can execute the stuff we’re trying to operate, then it can be effective,” Kerr said. “It’s just not a smooth fit.”

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Who Kendrick Perkins believes has ‘edge' between Warriors, Lakers in 2025-26 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Another season of NBA basketball means another season of Kendrick Perkins’ hot takes.

The former player and current ESPN studio analyst began in earnest on Sunday’s episode of “NBA Countdown,” when he claimed he still views the Los Angeles Lakers as a better team than the Warriors entering the 2025-26 NBA season.

“Both of these teams are going to be here come April,” Perkins said in the minutes leading up to the Warriors’ preseason matchup against the Lakers on Sunday. “Both of these teams are going to be in the postseason. I give the Lakers a slight edge because they have a third option offensively in Austin Reaves.”

That third scoring option is a sticking point for Perkins, who wondered aloud whether Golden State has the same offensive depth as the Lakers.

“We don’t know who the third option is for the Golden State Warriors,” Perkins said. “Is that going to be [Jonathan] Kuminga? Are they going to rely on Buddy Hield? That’s the question.”

The Warriors appeared to operate just fine without a clear-cut third scorer at the end of the 2024-25 season, compiling a 23-8 record when Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green all saw the court. But Perkins is skeptical over whether that’s enough given Golden State’s title aspirations.

“The 23-8 [record] got them out in the second round,” Perkins said, referencing the Warriors’ semifinal series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. “They’re trying to win the championship. Mind you, Steph [Curry] got injured, I get that part. But we don’t know if they could’ve got past [the Oklahoma City Thunder] with that roster that they had.”

Despite Butler only playing 30 regular-season games with the Warriors last season, Golden State finished just two games behind the Lakers in the Western Conference standings. A full season of Butler figures to go a long way towards making Perkins eat his own words.

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Al Horford experiencing easy Warriors transition with ‘terrifying' Steph Curry originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The first game of any NBA team’s preseason schedule can bring heavy legs from an intense week of training camp, and rust still needing to be scraped off. The Warriors’ oldest player didn’t appear to have any issues in either category. 

Al Horford, 39 years old, was sharp and spry in the Warriors’ 111-103 win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at Chase Center. And he fit like a glove on his new team after spending the last four years with the Boston Celtics. 

Coach Steve Kerr was effusive in his praise of Horford after the win, and those same sentiments remained after reviewing the film. 

“Al just never seems to make a mistake,” Kerr said Tuesday after practice. “He just brings everything you want. There’s size and athleticism, and shooting ability and passing. He makes the game really easy for everybody.” 

Entering his 19th year as a pro, Horford isn’t as easy on himself as his new coach and teammates have been. But even he could acknowledge what everybody saw. The transition from the Celtics’ system to the way the Warriors operate was as smooth as anybody could have hoped. 

“In my eyes, I’m very hard on myself. It was good. I know there’s definitely ways that I can continue to be better,” Horford said Tuesday. “But they make it so easy for guys to come in here and fit in with the group and what we’re trying to do. Draymond [Green], Steph [Curry] and obviously coach putting us in positions to kind of go out there and play and feel the game out. 

“It has been an easy transition. For me, I’m obviously still getting comfortable and familiar with everything. But I am encouraged after that first game, some of the things that I saw, and some of the things that I know that we will all continue to get better at.” 

The expectation upon Horford’s signing was that he’d be the Warriors’ new starting center. Kerr instead stuck with the same group that was so successful in the second half last season and brought Horford off the bench to begin the preseason. Without scoring a point, Horford quickly showcased the kind of impact he can have on the Warriors once he first entered the game. 

Horford played just under nine minutes in the first quarter after sitting for the first three minutes, and was a plus-four as the Warriors held a one-point lead. In that first run of his, Horford already grabbed two rebounds, dished two assists, blocked two shots and had a steal. The most notable was how he quickly found Curry for two points. 

About a minute and a half after taking his warmup gear off, Horford ran the floor alongside Curry and wound up in the left corner. Curry gave Horford the ball but found it back in his hands a split second later as he cut behind Dalton Knecht and finished a nifty layup that also sent him to the free-throw line. 

Curry after the game said he already feels an “unspoken chemistry” sharing the floor with Horford. 

“It’s a level of awareness that I’ve never really had to think about before like that,” Horford said of Curry’s constant movement. 

Plenty of players, even the best of the best like Kevin Durant, have needed extra time to get used to understanding Curry’s uniqueness. Horford is looking at it in the simplest ways he can. 

“When I’m on the floor with him, the whole mindset is trying to make the game easier for him. For me, that is either getting him the ball or setting a good screen or doing anything that I can to make sure that our offense just kind of moves and flows,” Horford said. 

“He’s such a smart player that it’s easy to play off of him. And sometimes he’ll kind of tell you what to do. When he passed me that ball, you know he’s going to cut, so I guess that’s the unspoken stuff right there.” 

The variety of combinations Kerr can use with Horford is another bonus at his disposal. Horford, 6-foot-9, will play both frontcourt positions. He’s seen more as a center but will see time at power forward, too. 

That wrinkle was seen in the second quarter when Horford slid down to the 4 and 7-footer Quinten Post was the 5 next to him. They played the final five minutes of the second quarter together, and the Warriors outscored the Lakers 16-7. 

“He obviously brings that versatility, both offensively and defensively,” Post said. “I like playing with him. We’ve been having a lot of talk, trying to pick his brain. … He’s just a guy that you can plug into any system, any defensive scheme.” 

Stats didn’t need to jump off the page to understand what a seamless addition Horford is, though the numbers spoke for themselves. Horford was a plus-13 in 14 minutes off the bench with three points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and one assist.

Like so many others before him, Horford also sure was happy to go from being Curry’s opponent to immediately relishing in the riches of being his teammate.

“He just does such a good job of terrifying everybody in the league every time he moves, so that’s something I’m going to take advantage of,” Horford said. 

Games don’t even count yet and the rest of the league already is on notice for a new duo that can make any arena a house of horrors.

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Michael Malone calls Al Horford joining Warriors a ‘match made in heaven' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

One of Steve Kerr’s peers has placed his stamp of approval on Al Horford’s fit with the Warriors.

Former NBA coach and current ESPN analyst Michael Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in 2023, described in a segment for the network’s “NBA Countdown” how Horford’s addition could transform Golden State’s offense this season.

“They’ve added a proficient 3-point shooting big man,” Malone said. “Champion, high character, culture— they haven’t had this spacing, 1 through 5, in a long time.”

Horford’s ability to shoot from long distance is expected to make opponents pay for selling out on Stephen Curry and other Warriors playmakers. The 39-year-old center shot over 40 percent from 3-point range in his final three seasons with the Boston Celtics.

“The number of wide-open shots that he’s going to get is going to spread out their offense and make a really tough offensive team to guard even that much harder,” Malone said.

It isn’t just Horford’s range that has Malone so optimistic, however. In the 2024-25 NBA season, the Warriors ran just 10 total pick-and-roll plays involving Curry and a center. Their new acquisition, Horford, has tallied the sixth-most pick-and-pop shots of any player over the last 10 seasons.

“Steve Kerr, historically, has not been a big pick-and-roll coach,” Malone observed. “They haven’t had maybe the players…now, you’re adding a guy [in] in the last ten years [who] is one of the most prolific pick-and-pop bigs the game has seen. So, I think this is a match made in heaven. I know Steph Curry has to be really excited.”

Based on the early reviews from Malone and Kerr, Warriors fans should be plenty excited, as well.

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