Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is excited about his team’s potential for the upcoming season. His team possesses a balance of youth and experience and he can’t wait to see how that develops.
After being selected by the Warriors with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Moses Moody was labeled more NBA-ready than his fellow lottery pick and rookie teammate Jonathan Kuminga.
Through five Summer League games -- four in Las Vegas and one in the California Classic -- Moody proved that there is some truth to that statement.
Kuminga surely proved that he isn't as raw as many thought he was going to be, but Moody showcased a skill set that will translate nicely to the NBA and could be plugged into the Warriors' system right away. His advanced feel for the game is evident, and he has a knack for scoring, both from the perimeter and inside the paint.
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But, it would be incorrect to say Moody is completely ready for the NBA. In the Warriors' Summer League finale, an 84-76 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Moody had a rocky start. He missed shots that he shouldn't have, including an air-balled 3-pointer and a missed layup in the first two minutes of the game. He finished with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-7 from beyond the arc, so it's good to see he worked out of his early funk and got settled, but it's still something to pay attention to as he prepares for training camp.
"I've learned a lot through Summer League," Moody said after the loss. "Just being in the environment and really just figuring out the game and figuring out how to affect the game. Throughout the season you can expect me to knock down shots and fulfill my role and do whatever the team needs."
Moody hit the nail on the head: his role with the Warriors next season will be to knock down open shots. However, they will also need him to develop.
Throughout Summer League, Moody showed he can improve as a facilitator -- he averaged just one assist per game in Las Vegas -- and also needs to build up his defensive awareness. According to Warriors Summer League coach Kris Weems, that'll come naturally with experience. Moody agrees -- it's the smaller nuances of the game, such as pulling in from the weak side, that he has to get better at.
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As for Moody's offense, Weems believes it will continue to grow as he gets more playing time with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, whether it's in a game or just practice.
"He's figured out ways to get his shot off, he's an underrated driver, so he can get to the basket, he's got a big, strong frame and now it's just got to be like, can I make quick decisions and play off of some of these guys like Steph and Klay and Draymond," Weems said. "But he's gotten a whole lot better over the course of the time here."
Through four games in Las Vegas, Moody averaged 16.3 points on 42.9 percent shooting, including 37.0 percent from 3-point range, and 2.8 rebounds.
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The good news for Moody is that he won't have to wait long to get in the gym with Curry, Thompson, Green and the rest of his teammates, as well as a newly renovated coaching staff with an emphasis on player development.
Moody will have to continue to grow through his inaugural NBA season, but solely based on his Summer League showing, he appears capable of making an immediate impact for the Warriors. Now it's just a question of how big it will be, and that will come down to how much he develops.