Rookie Ky Bowman is thrilled to have an opportunity with the Warriors after being passed over on draft night, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Bowman signed a two-way deal in July and is hoping to work his way into a standard contract.
“It all starts with being undrafted, knowing I got a lot more to prove to the teams that didn’t draft me and to show the kids back home that you can make it if you put your faith and your work into it,” he said. “I’ve just been praying and working every day and every night, being in the gym on nights that people (hang out). It was a commitment to myself to be successful.”
Bowman had a rough introduction to the league as part of the Warriors’ Summer League team, averaging 2.3 PPG and shooting just 22% from the floor in four games. He said he has learned a lot more during offseason workouts with his new teammates.
“A lot of people don’t get here, it still doesn’t feel real, but it’s an honor to get here,” Bowman said. “I’m trying to embrace every moment, trying to pick up things from the guys who are here. Even when I am guarding Stephen Curry), learning different moves that he’s doing, things I’m trying to work on to become as good as a player.”
There’s more Warriors news to pass along:
- Two knee specialists believe Klay Thompson is taking a significant risk by planning to play this season, relays Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. Dr. Tim Hewett, who has studied the biomechanics of the knee for the Mayo Clinic and served as director of Ohio State’s Sports Health and Performance Institute, and Dr. Christopher Nagelli of the Mayo Clinic presented a paper recently suggesting that athletes with ACL tears should rest for two full years. “Please do share that with Klay,” Hewett said. “… People don’t like to hear it but it does not change the facts, and that facts are that you’re at risk for re-injury before two years and you won’t be the same player in the first year.”
- Former Warriors player Mike Dunleavy Jr. is rising in influence as the team’s assistant GM, notes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Dunleavy had served as Golden State’s Eastern scout since 2017 and watched D’Angelo Russell in person more than anyone else in the organization. He played a key role in finalizing a sign-and-trade once GM Bob Myers learned that Kevin Durant was joining the Nets.
- NBA.com takes a look at the Warriors’ three draft picks, Jordan Poole, Eric Paschall and Alen Smailagić, and what they might be able to contribute this season.
How about 1.5 years off instead of .6 anyway for Klay, no Olympics.
When Durant came back (too soon or finally), everyone said he could just post in the corner and shoot threes and that would be a big help but no. He had to putz around at the top of the key, going 1v1, changing directions while ball-handling.
KT will be even more likely to overdo it while his “graft is still mush”.
The comparisons were made with other pro athletes, not from the general population.
I’m also wondering if the Warriors are going to push both Curry and Green too hard without all of the depth that they’ve been able to rely on over the past five seasons. Both of them have had durability issues and could end up getting hurt again if the team leans too hard on them in order to compete in the ruthless Western conference. If they try and bring back Klay too soon and use both Curry and Green 35 minutes every single game, it could easily backfire on them.
Did they pay those guys the big bucks just to have them on their roster or do they actually want them to play? My guess is they want them on the court. 35mpg is not unreasonable. They could get injured no matter how many minutes they play.