Rookie duo at Summer League could decide Warriors’ future

The keys to the Golden State Warriors’ aboriginal acceptable successful the location fractional of the Thomas & Mack Center connected Monday.

That’s wherever halfway James Wiseman, the No. 2 prime successful 2020, sat courtside to ticker 2021 lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody play the Orlando Magic successful the team’s archetypal Vegas Summer League game.

Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody springiness the Warriors a trio of high-upside youngsters if the franchise is consenting to beryllium diligent with their development. But with Golden State icons Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green successful their 30s and anxious to pursuit a 4th championship, the squad would similar them to beryllium productive sooner alternatively than later.

Kuminga and Moody’s performances successful Las Vegas could assistance the Warriors fig retired however acceptable they are to contribute. They got disconnected to a bully commencement successful a thrilling 91-89 overtime nonaccomplishment against Orlando that had the assemblage connected its feet astatine the extremity of regulation.

“I consciousness similar we had a truly bully one-two punch going on,” Moody said. “That’s my guy. (Kuminga) does what helium needs to do, gets to the cupful and finishes astir the rim, and I’m going to sound down those shots. So we play good disconnected each other.”

It’s uncommon that a squad that a squad with arsenic overmuch caller occurrence arsenic Golden State — 5 consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2015-19, including 3 championships — is successful a presumption to get truthful overmuch young talent.

An injury-riddled 2019-20 run allowed the Warriors to draught Wiseman, who averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds arsenic a rookie. A commercialized with Minnesota and losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies successful the NBA’s play-in circular gave them 2 much precocious picks successful July.

They took Kuminga, a 6-foot-8-inch freak athlete, astatine seventh wide from the G-League’s Ignite program. His length, archetypal measurement and progressive hands connected defence were awesome Monday. He finished with a team-high 16 points, six rebounds and 3 steals.

“When you speech astir athleticism and axenic size and moving mechanics, he’s up determination with the champion of them,” said teammate Kyle Guy, who said Kuminga tin defender each 5 positions. “I deliberation I deliberation that’s evidently what the Warriors saw successful him.”

Moody was taken 14th wide aft a beardown freshman play astatine Arkansas. He changeable good from 3, took attraction of the shot and competed connected defence against the Magic. He finished a team-high plus-19. Kuminga was close down him astatine plus-15.

“I similar them playing together,” said Warriors Summer League manager Kris Weems, who besides coaches their G-League team. “I deliberation they person a spot level coming successful arsenic draught picks. They’ve been counted connected successful their erstwhile teams. Obviously, I coached against Johnathan successful the G-League season, and Moses was Arkansas’ champion player. So they some consciousness assured successful their abilities.”

The 2 besides showed wherever they request to grow.

Weems acknowledged the nonrecreational crippled is moving a small accelerated for Moody, who is adjusting to the speed. Kuminga, who was 0-for-4 from 3, needs to amended arsenic a shooter. Weems besides said Kuminga and Moody inactive are learning to play disconnected the shot since Curry, Thompson and Green volition instrumentality galore of Golden State’s shots.

The squad hopes Kuminga, 18, and Moody, 19, accommodate rapidly and Wiseman, 20, grows aft playing 39 games his rookie season. The Warriors privation to instrumentality to competing for NBA championships. How overmuch Kuminga and Moody larn from Summer League whitethorn impact however soon that tin happen.

“Really, conscionable preparation, that’s what Summer League’s about,” Moody said. “Preparing, getting successful the ambiance to truly beryllium wherever you request to beryllium erstwhile the play starts.”

Contact Ben Gotz astatine bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz connected Twitter.