The Golden State Warriors have regrouped with Chris Paul as they look towards another Finals run.
The Golden State Warriors are coming for the 2023-24 NBA championship even if there will be stiff competition from contending teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns. The Warriors have the most proven core in the NBA right now as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green have won four NBA titles together. The question is, who are the 10 best players on the team?
Golden State has a collection of five All-Stars when looking at their historic Big Three and also the presence of Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul. With so much star power and big names on the depth chart, can the Warriors actually find a way to win their fifth NBA championship in the Stephen Curry era? Time will tell, but first, let’s dive into the 10 best players on the roster right now.
10. Dario Saric
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Statistics: 6.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG
As a sharpshooting big man, Dario Saric has been a key role player off the bench for most of his career. His basketball IQ and court vision have allowed him to thrive in the modern NBA, making him a reliable scorer when needed. Last season, the big man posted 6.4 points per game on 39.1% shooting from three with the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder.
On the offensive end, Saric’s scoring ability extends beyond the three-point line, where he has been a consistent threat. His ability to stretch the floor and create space for his teammates has been crucial in offensive schemes. Since Golden State wants as many great shooters as possible, Saric will play a valuable role in the regular season for the team.
9. Moses Moody
Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
2022-23 Statistics: 4.8 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Moses Moody, occupying the 9th spot among the Golden State Warriors’ top players in the 2023-24 season, has emerged as a promising young talent. His scoring ability and defensive prowess have made him a valuable contributor off the bench and a potential star in the making.
Defensively, Moody has shown an impressive knack for reading passing lanes and disrupting opponents’ plays. His long wingspan and agility have allowed him to become a pesky defender, often generating steals and turnovers. At only 21 years old, Moody has plenty of room to improve on a title-contending roster and the 6’6” shooting guard will be a valuable defender off the bench.
8. Gary Payton II
Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
2022-23 Statistics: 4.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Following in his father’s footsteps, Payton II has earned the nickname “The Mitten” for his ability to suffocate opponents with his relentless on-ball defense. His quick hands, agility, and anticipation have made him a nightmare for opposing ball handlers. It is no wonder why the Warriors brought him back last season after letting him go.
Offensively, Payton II has been an efficient finisher around the rim, often capitalizing on fast-break opportunities created by his defensive efforts. While not a primary scorer, his ability to create turnovers and generate transition plays has been crucial in changing the momentum of games. The 30-year-old will never be a star-sheet stuffer because that is not what the Warriors need to get back on top.
7. Jonathan Kuminga
Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
2022-23 Statistics: 9.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Jonathan Kuminga, occupying the 7th spot among the Golden State Warriors’ top players in the 2023-24 season, represents the future of the franchise. As a young and dynamic forward, Kuminga has showcased his athleticism and versatility on both ends of the court. At 20 years old, Kuminga is just getting started and the ceiling is very high for the former No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Defensively, Kuminga’s combination of size and agility makes him a disruptive force. He has shown the ability to guard multiple positions and contest shots effectively. While he is still refining his game and gaining experience, Kuminga’s potential is evident, and he has already made significant contributions to the Warriors’ success. As he gains more experience, Kuminga will soon be one of the five best players on the team.
6. Kevon Looney
Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
2022-23 Statistics: 7.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Kevon Looney’s reliability as a frontcourt player has been a constant for the Warriors. He is known for his basketball IQ, excellent positioning, and his ability to set screens and execute pick-and-roll plays effectively. Even when playing 23.9 minutes per game last year, Looney put up 9.3 rebounds per game.
Looney’s impact often goes beyond the stat sheet, as he’s a key contributor on the defensive end. His disciplined shot-blocking and rebounding s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s have been instrumental in securing possessions and protecting the rim. It is very likely that Draymond Green will be the starting center for most of the season as the Warriors will go small, leaving Looney to occupy the paint as a backup. In just a few minutes, the big man can swallow rebounds and affect the game quickly.
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Statistics: 13.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 8.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Chris Paul was shockingly brought in following the trade of Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards. A former enemy of the Warriors when he was with the Houston Rockets, Paul now has to find his footing alongside Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and others. The fact that Paul has been traded for the third time since he left Los Angeles is concerning because the 38-year-old is constantly injured in critical games come playoff time.
However, the Warriors did not want to pay Poole max money on a long-term deal and can see how the Paul experiment plays out before the point guard is off the books for $30,800,000 after the 2024-25 campaign. If Paul can fit in alongside Curry in the starting lineup or be a dominant sixth man, he could be the missing piece to a championship side. Otherwise, expect Paul to miss games through age and attrition as he has done over the past few seasons.
4. Draymond Green
Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
2022-23 Statistics: 8.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Draymond Green is no longer in his prime but his impact for the Warriors is undeniably great. Even in the 2021-22 season, when Green was a role player, he was extremely important in defending opposing stars and also acting as the primary playmaker on offense. Setting screens, making passes, and being the leader of the team, Draymond is a key player which is why the Warriors decided to give him a $100 million extension.
Next season, Green will be 34 years old with some heavy mileage on his legs considering his nine playoff runs with the Warriors. Luckily, Golden State does not need Draymond to score consistently or even explode on the stat sheet, rather, the player needs to continue showcasing his vocal leadership and find a way to welcome Paul into the team on both ends of the court.
3. Andrew Wiggins
Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
2022-23 Statistics: 17.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Andrew Wiggins had a difficult season last year because he missed significant time due to personal reasons. With only 37 games played, Wiggins was not able to help the team compete on both ends of the court for the majority of the year which is why Golden State finished with only the 6th seed in the Western Conference. No doubt, Wiggins will be extremely important next year.
If Wiggins can return to an All-Star level as he did in 2021-22 when he was a Western Conference All-Star starter, the Warriors will be in great shape as they push for the NBA title in 2024. Since he is 28 years old, Wiggins is the youngest star on the team and will be the primary defensive enforcer on the perimeter as well as being arguably the second or third option on offense. Based on the success he had in 2022, there is no reason to believe he can’t do it.
2. Klay Thompson
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
2022-23 Statistics: 21.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Klay Thompson played 69 games last season and even when he did, he received criticism for not being the same player who made five All-Star Teams between 2015 and 2019. Thompson is not the same player on both ends of the court and that is expected after a knee and Achilles injuries along with age. Thompson will be 34 next year, and he can’t carry the load he once did.
Luckily, the Warriors have excellent reinforcements on offense (Paul, Wiggins) and defense (Green, Payton II, Kuminga), so Thompson will only have to do his job on defense and make his three-pointers when he receives passes. Thompson’s basketball IQ is severely underrated because he doesn’t take bad shots, moves the ball well, and has elite chemistry with superstar Stephen Curry. If Thompson can shoot over 40% from three and average 20 points per game, the Warriors will be in great shape.
1. Stephen Curry
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
2022-23 Statistics: 29.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Stephen Curry is still the man in Golden State because he is the best point guard in the world and literally unstoppable when his three-point shots are falling. Curry averaged over 29 points per game last season and he did it with only 56 games played. It is likely that Steph won’t meet the 65-game mark and that means he will miss out on All-NBA Team selection or other individual accolades.
The Warriors probably don’t need Curry to play 65 games anyway, as long as he is ready for the postseason. The point guard posted 30.5 points per game on 36.3% from three in the playoffs last year as the best player on the team and that is something Curry can continue to do. The former No. 7 overall pick will end up being 36 years old in 2024, and while that is clearly old when looking at NBA point guards, he will still be the driving force on the roster with a fifth championship in mind.
