The Golden State Warriors tried to rebuild their team while continuing to contend for titles, adding multiple lottery picks after two seasons outside the playoffs and trying to develop them while pushing for titles.
Steve Kerr appeared on Draymond Green’s podcast, and the pair were complimenting the Miami Heat players for stepping up whenever the team needed it instead of complaining about minutes. These were clear shots at Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga, according to Marcus Thompson of The Athletic.
“It seemed pretty obvious to me. That wasn’t in braille… I mean, Steph had to give a speech for this reason in Game 7. You can watch it on the bench, you could see it at times. So, yeah, I don’t think we needed to read into it… The interesting part is that he’s basically saying, that’s not the Warriors’ culture. And it isn’t, right? From Patrick McCaw to watching these guys this year, they’ve always had issues with youngsters and that’s what happens when you’re so front-loaded, and playing for a championship every year. You’re just not a good place for young talent.”
The Warriors’ chemistry struggles this season doomed their chances at success. Hopefully, the team has some answers up their sleeve to ensure they can return to contention next season, which could be the final season for Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, given their contract situations.
It Comes Down To Culture
Thompson also ended up comparing the Warriors with the Miami Heat and called the Warriors ‘anti-young’. Draymond and Kerr did refer to the Heat while making their comments about young players on the Warriors, so it goes to show there is some truth to what Thompson believes.
“If there is a Warriors culture, and there is, it’s kind of anti-young a little bit. Whereas Miami’s is ‘listen, we’ll take anybody as long as you play this way, we got you.’ But they aren’t getting lottery picks and they aren’t competing for a title every year over the last decade like the Warriors.”
The Warriors haven’t ever relied on their young players to lead them to success. The Heat, on the other hand, regularly try and find underappreciated players around the league just desperate to get a chance in the NBA, an attitude missing from players that go in the lottery or the first round. Outside of Poole, no young player played a major role in the Warriors’ 2022 title triumph, and the team will likely make trades to add veterans that can commit to the Warriors’ style and culture.
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