Warriors without Curry, Butler and Green for their matchup vs. Kings

Warriors Without Curry, Butler, and Green Against Kings

Golden State faced the Sacramento Kings with a substantially altered lineup due to the absence of their three biggest stars. Stephen Curry did not join the team on their 90-minute bus ride Tuesday night, and by game time on Wednesday, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler were also ruled out.

New Lineup Introduced

Coach Steve Kerr started rookie guard Will Richard, second-year center Quentin Post, and shooting guard Moses Moody, alongside Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga. This group formed the least experienced Warriors starting lineup since April 26, 2012, long before Kerr became head coach.

“Obviously it’s more difficult when you’re missing your stars, but it’s a great opportunity for a lot of guys,” Kerr said before the game. He hoped to see “energy, pace” from the new lineup, emphasizing aggressive offense and strong defense. “Throwing the ball ahead, playing aggressively on offense. Defensively, containing penetration and keeping the easy stuff away, just trying to put a good 48 minutes together. I’m excited.”

The challenge was somewhat eased by the Kings’ own injury issues, making the matchup more balanced despite the depleted Warriors roster.

Historical Context

The previous least experienced lineup before this was in 2012, featuring Klay Thompson and several other players who had limited NBA experience.

Author's summary: The Warriors, missing their top stars Curry, Butler, and Green, fielded their youngest lineup in over a decade, turning a difficult situation into a chance for emerging players to prove themselves.

more

The Mercury News The Mercury News — 2025-11-06

More News