What is the Golden State Warriors' Starting Lineup?
The Warriors took a major hit when Stephen Curry suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1. Now, Gary Payton II takes over for the next three games at least, with the potential for more. This is where Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler II, and Buddy Hield must take the next step to keep the season alive for the Warriors. The season is on the line, and the Warriors need everyone to step up.
| Position | Starter |
|---|---|
| Point Guard | Stephen Curry (Out for Games 2-5) -Gary Payton II starting |
| Shooting Guard | Brandin Podziemski |
| Small Forward | Buddy Hield |
| Power Forward | Jimmy Butler III |
| Center | Draymond Green |
Point Guard: Steph Curry
The greatest 3-point shooter in NBA history, Curry is entering his 16th season and is coming off a season in which he averaged 29.4 points. He has an astounding 3,390 career 3-pointers, an NBA record. Curry started the playoffs on a good note, leading the Warriors with 31 points in Game 1. With Curry out, Gary Payton II takes over for the next few games.
Shooting Guard: Brandin Podziemski
Brandin Podziemski has emerged as the starting shooting guard with Klay Thompson shipped off to Dallas. Significantly, he is fourth on the team in scoring and has benefited from playing in the backcourt with Curry and Hield.
Small Forward: Buddy Hield
With Andrew Wiggins now in Miami, Buddy Hield has emerged as the starting small forward for the Warriors. Amazingly, Hield went off in Game 7 against the Houston Rockets, leading the team with 33 points to lead them to the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Power Forward: Jimmy Butler
Through a monumental trade in January, Jimmy Butler became the biggest addition to the team. He has been to the NBA Finals but has never won it. Now, he gets a chance to lead the Warriors to their fifth championship in 12 seasons. Butler is currently second in the team in scoring. Butler also had a good Game 1 against the Houston Rockets, scoring 25 points to help the Warriors win. Butler suffered a deep glute muscle bruise in Game 2, but returned for Game 4.
Center: Draymond Green
One of the most outspoken players in the league, Green has spent his entire 12-year career with the Warriors. A defensive specialist who was once capable of putting up a triple-double every night, he remains a Swiss Army knife type who will always keep things interesting with his comments off the court.
Who is on the Golden State Warriors’ Bench?
| Position | 2nd String | 3rd String | 4th String |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point Guard | Brandin Podziemski | Pat Spencer | Taran Armstrong |
| Shooting Guard | Buddy Hield | Gary Payton II | Moses Moody |
| Small Forward | Moses Moody | Gui Santos | Jimmy Butler III |
| Power Forward | Gui Santos | Jonathan Kuminga | Gui Santos |
| Center | Quinten Post | Kevon Looney | Trayce Jackson-Davis |
This is one of the deepest benches in the NBA. Podziemski is the Warriors' first-round draft pick from Santa Clara, who often subs in as the point guard for the second team. Meanwhile, Hield often comes in as the shooting guard. Gary Payton II often comes off the bench in spurts. Additionally, Jonathan Kuminga has been excellent as the power forward, often leading the Warriors in points.
Who Is the Warriors’ 6th Man?
Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga are both solid 6th-man options off the bench. Despite neither being in consideration for the award, both have showcased their abilities and often carried the Warriors when tasked with the challenge.
Get to Know the Golden State Warriors Front Office
| Position | Staff Member |
|---|---|
| General Manager | Mike Dunleavy |
| Head Coach | Steve Kerr |
| Associate Head Coach | Kenny Atkinson |
Who Is the Warriors' Head Coach?
Steve Kerr has been Golden State's head coach since 2015 and is entering his 12th year at the helm, already having won four championships and six NBA Finals appearances. Of course, the NBA Finals are nothing new to Kerr, who played in five of them over a distinguished 16-year playing career.
Who Is the Warriors’ General Manager?
Mike Dunleavy has replaced Bob Myers in this position after Myers built the current roster. The 41-year-old Dunleavy enters his seventh season in the Warriors front office. He was vice president of basketball operations for the past two seasons after two years as an assistant general manager. He joined the front office in 2018-19 as a pro scout following a 15-year playing career that included four-plus seasons with the Warriors (2002-07).
Golden State Warriors FAQs
When fully healthy, the current Warriors starting lineup is Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler II, and Draymond Green.
Steph Curry currently leads the Warriors in scoring with 24.4 points per game. He's leading the team by a clear margin, with Jimmy Butler III coming in second with 17.2 points per game and Jonathan Kuminga averaging 15.6 points.
The Warriors starting five is Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler III, and Draymond Green.
Author
Robert B. Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of the Gambling.com Group team. In his spare time, he runs the largest sports meetup group in Orange County, CA, actively participating in every sport imaginable. He is also a published author of five thriller novels, all available on Amazon.
