The 2022-23 Golden State Warriors’ Season Preview

October 3^rd, 2022

The Warriors’ superstar trio of Stephen Curry (on the right), Klay Thompson (in the middle), and Draymond Green (on the left) are the foundation of legendary Golden State Warriors’ teams that have won 4 NBA titles since head coach Steve Kerr was hired in 2014, and Brooklyn Nets’ superstar forward Kevin Durant also helped Golden State win two of the titles in 2017 and 2018.
(Photo: Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports)

The Golden State Warriors had a magical season that culminated with them winning the NBA championship last year. They started the season 19-3, were able to get a healthy Klay Thompson midway through the season, and received superb, spectacular, MVP-caliber performances from Stephen Curry last year. Draymond Green played excellent defense when healthy, and Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole improved exponentially to the point where they are now bonafide stars in the NBA right now.

Head coach Steve Kerr did a magnificent job of leading his team to win the title, and he is a tremendous coach that has won his fourth title in eight seasons. The Warriors are a rather unconventional team, but despite having a relatively old core and a roster that some would call undersized, they are a timeless, age-defying group of winners that are extremely battle-tested. The Warriors are a very smart, skilled team that run a superb offense and defend really well. When their team is fully healthy, they have proven to be a formidable team, which is a testament to the team they have built over the years.

Star Players:
Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole

Stephen Curry had a tremendous season, and he was magnificent during the 2022 NBA postseason. He is a legendary shot maker that is the league’s best shooter, and he also is an extremely skilled point guard that can really make shots, and is a really good playmaker. He is one of the game’s all-time greats, and he will be looking to help Golden State add another title to the history books.

Andrew Wiggins really improved, especially in the postseason. He is a very athletic, skilled forward that took his game to a whole new level, and he also made his first All-Star team. He had a terrific year, and he is a skilled scorer that thrives at slashing to the hoop, has greatly improved his outside shot, and also is a good secondary ball mover. He is also a very good defender, and he is a versatile, do-it-all forward that is vital to Golden State’s success for the upcoming season.

Draymond Green is a tremendous defender that can guard a variety of positions, and he is a shutdown defender that can really put the clamps on his opponents. He also is a very good playmaker that can comfortably run the point, and he has very good court vision. On the downside, he’s not a very good shooter or scorer, so he’s not likely to provide much floor spacing. Still, he is a very smart, seasoned point forward that has been integral to Golden State, and he is a glue guy that will help them make another deep postseason run.

Klay Thompson is a very skilled, sharpshooting scoring guard that has been one of the game’s best when healthy, and he has helped Golden State win four titles, along with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr. He’s struggled to stay healthy as he’s had multiple knee injuries, and because of that, he’s lost of a bit of athleticism and explosiveness recently. Still, he is a savvy veteran player that can shoot, score, and make plays on both ends of the court, and he is a vital member of Golden State’s team.

Jordan Poole is a gifted shot maker that had a tremendous postseason, and he is an agile, very skilled combo guard that can provide instant offense whenever he steps onto the court. Defensively, he doesn’t usually get big assignments, and his lack of size can hurt his team, but he was stellar on offense last year. He had a big impact to the Warriors last year, and he will be crucial to their team’s success for the upcoming season.

Additions:
JaMychal Green, Donte DiVincenzo, Patrick Baldwin Jr., and Ryan Rollins

JaMychal Green is an athletic, energetic big man that can shoot, make hustle plays, and defend when he is on the court. He had a bit of a down season last year as he didn’t shoot the ball well, but his versatility and experience makes him an intriguing newcomer to the Warriors’ team. It’s no guarantee that he will get ample playing time due to a crowded roster, but if he plays up to his capabilities, he could be a great addition to the Warriors this year.

Donte DiVincenzo is an athletic, skilled swingman that has a variety of skills that could help Golden State for the upcoming season. He had a down season last year as he didn’t shoot the ball well, but he is a high IQ playmaker that operates well as a shooter and secondary ball mover on the court. It’s no guarantee that he will get ample playing time due to a crowded roster, but if he plays up to his capabilities, he could be a great addition to the Warriors this year.

Patrick Baldwin Jr. is a very talented, skilled forward that can shoot, score, and defend, and he can play all three front court positions. He didn’t have a great freshman season as he was tasked to carry a bad Milwaukee Panthers’ team, and he was injured for a good portion of the year. He also hasn’t been healthy over the summer, so he hasn’t had many reps at the NBA level. He probably won’t be ready to contribute right away, but so far, he’s played really well in preseason thus far, and he is a high upside player that could prove to be a great pick for the Warriors in the future.

Ryan Rollins is an agile, skilled combo guard that can shoot and score the basketball, and he has a solid mid-range game. He’s an undersized two guard that doesn’t have a great three-point shot, but he has more of an old school flair to his game, and he is a shot maker that can operate as a secondary ball mover. Like Baldwin, he didn’t play in the Summer League due to a foot injury, so he won’t likely contribute right away. Still, he is a skilled scorer that could prove to be a very good pick if he reaches his full potential for the Warriors.

Subtractions:
Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, Damion Lee, and Juan Toscano-Anderson

The Warriors lost some very good role players that were vital to the success of their championship team last year. Payton II provided toughness, energy, and very good defense, and Porter excelled as a shooter and as a secondary ball mover last year. Bjelica was a solid offensive player that provided similar skills to Porter, and Damion Lee and Toscano-Anderson were 3 and D role players to helped strengthen the Warriors’ bench last season.

The absence of their presence will be felt, but the Warriors also made key additions by signing JaMychal Green and Donte DiVincenzo, and they also could receive a boost in giving more playing time to Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and James Wiseman this year.

Rookies:
Patrick Baldwin Jr., Ryan Rollins, and Lester Quiñones

The three rookies will enter a crowded roster where playing time may be hard to come by and may not necessarily contribute right away, but it will definitely make an already deep Warriors team even deeper.

Expected Rotation: