Golden State Warriors Face Offensive Challenges
The Golden State Warriors are grappling with a significant issue this season: the glaring lack of offensive support surrounding their star point guard, Stephen Curry. As the only consistent scoring threat, Curry’s teammates have struggled to match the production seen in other elite teams across the NBA. A closer examination reveals just how stark this contrast is.
Comparative Analysis of Top NBA Players’ Supporting Casts
To illustrate the disparity, I analyzed the scoring contributions of sidekicks for the league’s top ten players, utilizing the EPM metric from Dunks and Threes. I filtered out any player who hasn’t participated in at least half of their team’s games and substituted Chet Holmgren with Tyrese Maxey to avoid including two players from the same team. The top ten players include notable names such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City, Nikola Jokic from Denver, and Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee, along with Curry, Luka Doncic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Donovan Mitchell, Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, and Maxey.
Scoring Averages of Sidekicks
The data showcases the scoring averages of each top player’s sidekick, revealing a troubling trend for the Warriors. Here are the figures:
Karl-Anthony Towns – Jalen Brunson: 28.8 PPG
Luka Doncic – Austin Reaves: 27.8 PPG
Nikola Jokic – Jamal Murray: 24.9 PPG
Victor Wembanyama – De’Aaron Fox: 23.9 PPG
Tyrese Maxey – Joel Embiid: 20.5 PPG
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Kevin Porter Jr.: 19.3 PPG
Donovan Mitchell – Evan Mobley: 19.1 PPG
Stephen Curry – Jimmy Butler: 19.1 PPG
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Chet Holmgren: 18.7 PPG
Cade Cunningham – Jalen Duren: 18.0 PPG
While Jimmy Butler’s scoring average is below that of other sidekicks, he isn’t at the very bottom. It’s important to note that many consider Brunson to be the primary player for the Knicks. If we shift the focus to Towns as the lead player, his scoring average drops the PPG of non-Butler sidekicks to 21.6. This puts Butler 2.5 points below the average for sidekicks, which is a concern but not catastrophic. While he needs to be more aggressive, Butler is not the primary issue plaguing the Warriors’ offense.
Examining Third Options Across the League
The issue becomes even more pronounced when we look at the third scoring options for each of these top ten players. Here’s how they stack up:
Nikola Jokic – Aaron Gordon: 18.8 PPG
Victor Wembanyama – Stephon Castle: 18.4 PPG
Luka Doncic – LeBron James: 17.6 PPG
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Jalen Williams: 17.3 PPG
Tyrese Maxey – Paul George: 17.1 PPG
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Ryan Rollins: 17.0 PPG
Karl-Anthony Towns – Mikal Bridges: 16.4 PPG
Donovan Mitchell – Darius Garland: 15.5 PPG
Cade Cunningham – Tobias Harris: 14.3 PPG
Stephen Curry – Jonathan Kuminga: 12.4 PPG
The Warriors find themselves at the bottom of this list, and Kuminga’s average may further decline if he is relegated to a lesser role. The average scoring of third options across the league stands at 16.9 PPG, marking a significant 4.5-point deficit for the Warriors. In fact, they are the only NBA team with merely two players averaging more than 12.4 points per game. The Utah Jazz also face a similar predicament, as Walker Kessler’s injury has left them without a healthy third player averaging over 10 points.
The Path Forward: Seeking a Third Scoring Option
To address this scoring shortfall, the Warriors must prioritize acquiring a legitimate third scoring option, ideally one who can contribute effectively in the paint. Potential candidates include Michael Porter Jr., Trey Murphy III, Ivica Zubac, and Andrew Wiggins. However, none of these players come cheap.
Michael Porter Jr. is having a standout season, and if he becomes available, the asking price could be steep, possibly requiring two first-round picks.
Trey Murphy III boasts a contract that extends for three-and-a-half more seasons, likely prompting the Pelicans to seek a similar return.
Ivica Zubac, known for his efficient contract and dominant play, would also command significant assets, with reports suggesting the Clippers would want at least two first-round picks.
Andrew Wiggins may be a more affordable option, though a trade involving him would likely still necessitate a first-round pick from the Warriors.
Curry continues to shine, averaging an impressive 29.6 points per game with remarkable efficiency. The onus is now on the front office to enhance the roster and provide him with the necessary support to compete at the highest level.
