Where Steph, three other Warriors are on ESPN’s Top 100 list originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors are eager to get back to the NBA playoffs after a disappointing performance last season – and it appears they have the personnel to do so.
Four Golden State players were named to ESPN’s top 100 players list for the 2024-2025 NBA season. From the obvious to the less obvious, it’s a good indication of the talent on the Warriors’ roster, even after a season full of changes.
Despite having a down year last season, Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins still made the list at number 90. His position on the same list last year was 54.
“It was only three seasons ago that Wiggins was an All-Star on the rise. Two seasons ago he played just 37 games; and last season, despite playing in 71 games, his production took a hit. Wiggins averaged 13, 2 points per game – four points fewer than in his previous two seasons. He lacked the explosiveness on offense and tenacity on defense that helped the Warriors win a title in 2022. Wiggins was adamant about a return to form, but he did miss all of training camp. Warriors coach Steve Kerr is confident this won’t derail Wiggins’ start to the season, and the Warriors are depending on him to help the team get back into the playoffs. ”
— Kendra Andrews
Wiggins has not been able to live up to the success of his 2021-2022 All-Star campaign, when he averaged 17.2 points on 46.6 percent shooting from the field and 39.3 percent from three-point range, with 4.5 rebounds , 2.2 assists and 1.0 assists in 31.9 minutes.
He missed a significant amount of time the past two seasons due to the illness of his father, who passed away this summer. But Warriors coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the team are confident the 29-year-old can turn things around this season and return to his two-way All-Star ways.
After just one NBA season, Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is already making an impact in the league.
The second-year professional is ranked number 78.
“This time last year, Podziemski was a 19th pick to fill at the end of the guard depth chart. The Warriors were high on the shooting guard, but didn’t have high expectations for how much he would contribute. Ultimately, he finished with a 26 average, 6 minutes and a 28-game starting position and this season he is in the hunt for the starting lineup alongside Stephen Curry, along with fellow 2023 classmate Trayce Jackson-Davis, who has come closest to winning the franchise for Golden State while you invest in the ‘mantra of the future’.
–Andries
Podziemski averaged 9.2 points on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.5 percent from downtown, adding 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while leading the entire NBA with 38. He was brought into the starting lineup to replace the struggling Klay Thompson towards the end of the season, and he is a viable option to start this season.
Then there’s Warriors veteran Draymond Green, who was ranked No. 66 on ESPN’s list. Last season he was ranked number 55.
Green is coming off a season that nearly ended with his retirement. After two altercations that resulted in suspensions totaling 17 games, the Warriors were left pondering whether Green’s on-court abilities were worth his antics. The answer was yes , like Green. Still a leader for the Warriors entering this season, especially after Klay Thompson left in free agency But Green still has a lot to prove this season — not just that he’s a contributor on the floor, but a reliable teammate.
–Andries
As the NBA world has since learned, Green is one of those players whose impact goes beyond a stat sheet. He is the heartbeat of the team and has undoubtedly helped it win four NBA titles in eight seasons.
The Warriors need their outspoken leader on the court, as evidenced by his extended absence due to his indefinite suspension last season.
Green averaged 8.7 points, seven rebounds and 5.6 assists in 27.1 minutes over 55 games last season. There is no denying that he is important to the team’s success.
Last but certainly not least is Warriors superstar Steph Curry, who ranks among the top 10 best players in the league at No. 6.
“Why he fell 1 spot: If Curry’s rankings were based on his performance in his first Olympics this summer, the 16-year veteran likely would have moved up this list. But last season, Curry’s assists (5.1) and steals (0.7) averages were at career lows and his 45% field goal percentage was his third-worst. It’s impossible to say Curry had a “bad season”; he led the league in points (189), making field goals (59) and three-pointers (32) in the clutch en route to being named Clutch Player of the Year. He also led the league with 357 three-pointers. But the Warriors’ lack of depth was on full display in the postseason, when they failed to advance past the first leg of the play-in tournament.”
–Andries
It’s safe to say that Curry will be a top-10 player as long as he graces the league with his greatness.
And from the looks of it, that could take a while.
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