The Golden State Warriors are in the early stages of training camp, and head coach Steve Kerr said it’s going to take some time to figure out the team’s starting lineup.
While star point guard Stephen Curry is locked in as a starter, it sounds like the other four spots are up for grabs.
“There is competition across the board,” Kerr said Tuesday following the Warriors’ first practice session, per ESPN’s Kendra Andrews. “It’s not as simple as, ‘Who is going to be the 2?’ It’s got to be — ‘Who is going to be the 5? Who’s the 4?’ We know that Steph is the 1. But what’s the combination?”
The Warriors used 27 different starting lineup combinations during the 2023-24 season, none of which lasted for more than a handful of games in a row. The departure of longtime shooting guard Klay Thompson creates a major hole on offense, but Andrews noted that Golden State has multiple positions to address.
Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield will be battling for the second backcourt spot next to Curry. Draymond Green is likely to retain his starting job, but newcomer Kyle Anderson is seen by Kerr as a possible small-ball center. Kevon Looney and Trayce Jackson-Davis will be vying for the starting center position, while Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins will be competing for another frontcourt spot.
Kerr pointed out that in addition to figuring out Golden State’s starting lineup, the team has to find its best bench rotation as well.
“The starting lineup is going to have to be dependent, not only on the first five fitting, but the second fitting as well,” Kerr said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to figure out lineups. All the guys can do is compete, play their ass off.”