Inside The Warriors

Steve Kerr Reveals One Player Will Not Start for Warriors

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made one lineup decision.

Joey Linn

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr against the Philadelphia 76ers at Chase Center.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr against the Philadelphia 76ers at Chase Center. / Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
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The Golden State Warriors have a lot of different starting lineup options this season. While Steph Curry and Draymond Green are the two locks to start, head coach Steve Kerr could go several directions with the remaining three spots.

Who starts in the backcourt next to Curry is arguably the biggest preseason question Kerr must answer. The Warriors have several candidates for that spot, and they each bring a unique skillset.

Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton were acquired by Golden State this summer, and each have starting experience at the NBA level. Hield has started 412 of his 632 career games, while Melton has started 146 of his 350 career games.

Buddy Hield and De'Anthony Melton
Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots the ball while Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton (8) defends. / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Kerr announced that Hield will not start this season.

Via Monte Poole of NBC Sports: “Though there was muted speculation that Buddy Hield was a candidate to start for Warriors, coach Steve Kerr makes it apparent Buddy will be 6th man. Wants him on the floor when Stephen Curry is off. De’Anthony Melton appears to have the inside track as starting SG”

Hield is a career 40 percent three-point shooter. While Melton is just 36.9 percent from beyond the arc for his career, Kerr seems to like Hield with the second unit to offset some of the shooting they lose when Curry goes to the bench.

Melton and Hield are not the only two options for Kerr’s starting shooting guard spot, but they have profiled as the favorites throughout camp. 

Moses Moody made his case for rotation minutes and a potential starting opportunity with his 23-point performance on Friday, but the 6-foot-6 guard feels like a long shot to start given Kerr’s handling of his role in recent years.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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