When the Warriors were reviewing videos of players to decide who to invite to their free agent mini-camp, Daeqwon Plowden stood out right away, writes Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle. The 25-year-old shooting guard, who signed a two-way contract with the team on Tuesday, was going full speed and giving maximum effort in all of his film clips.
He won a spot on Golden State’s Summer League team, where he’s continuing to impress the organization, averaging 16.6 points per game while shooting 48.1% from three-point range and playing physical defense. Plowden wants to prove he’s “a winner,” and he sounds ready to use his opportunity with the Warriors as a learning experience.
“Throughout the year, I really just want to learn how to be a better pro,” he said. “This is one of the premier organizations. They’ve got some high-level guys. Some high-level characters. I want to learn how to be a better pro, whether that be for here … or wherever I end up winding up.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Bronny James had his best outing in the Summer League on Wednesday as the Lakers pulled out a one-point win over Atlanta. He had 12 points and made two 3-pointers after going 0-for-15 from the beyond the arc in his first four games. “I feel like I know the right way to play. So if I go out there and play my game every game, results like that will come,” he told Baxter Holmes of ESPN.
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr wanted to tweak his offense, which is a major reason why he decided to hire Terry Stotts as his lead assistant. “He fits what we want to do and get a little bit more patterned,” Kerr told Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “He loves movement. Portland, you know, they always had a lot of motion and movement, but it was probably more patterned than what we’ve done. Terry can really help us put in some new things that may be easier to run but maintain the motion.” Jerry Stackhouse, who has also been added to the staff, will bring a former player’s perspective. “Just feel like we needed Jerry,” Kerr said. “We have a lot of young players. … There’s something about a former player where those guys can tell our players, ‘I’ve been there, I’ve done this. I know exactly what you’re going through.’ Jerry did it on a really high level, but he’s also coached at a high level. That meant a lot to me.” Golden State has yet to officially announce those coaching hires.
- Suns owner Mat Ishbia said during an NBA TV interview that he believes his team is primed for a deep playoff run, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic relays. “First year, we didn’t get to where we wanted to be,” Ishbia said. “Second year, we’re going to see and we’re going to go out there and compete. I love those guys. I love the pieces, (Jusuf) Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale. We’ve got a lot of pieces. Bol Bol is back. We’ve got a lot of great pieces, but you’ve got to win. If you don’t win in the playoffs, people are going to talk about you. That’s an honor that they talk about us ’cause it’s high expectations. We’ve got to get there. We’re going to try this year again.”
Dana Gauruder contributed to this report.
I can’t imagine how annoying it would be to get so much attention just because of who your Dad is. Hopefully Bronny enjoys all the attention?!?
For real. I can’t figure out why we are supposed to care about this.
Mat Ishbia, I think you should just learn how to keep your mouth shut. The Suns are not destined for a deep playoff run. They’ll be lucky to even make the play-in at this point with that roster.
I’m pretty sure Matt Ishbia is the one saying “You can’t blow it up” He needs to back off the team and let nature run its course
Bronny problem is he thinks he is ready for the NBA when he is a long term project. He is not ready and he played a bad summer league team last night. He needs to understand take it slow and learn to be a good player. In the NBA he will get eaten up quickly. No 55th pick is making a team out of summer league.
Your problem is you know nothing about the game. You basically repeated what the kid said and knows. Start your basketball education with the wnba and work your way up.
You are just a troll with a burner account. You have never said anything put put others here down. That is what i find so sad about you getting your thrills being a troll.
Bronny would not be where he is right now if his father was someone else.
Bronny James is not an NBA-level talent, period. Never will be.
He will be a NBA player but I see him a second team defensive specialist unless he can become a great 3 pt shooter.
I think Bronnie had the work ethic and will surprise. He still may grow an inch or two. Jayson Tatum did so did David Robinson.
Bronny seems like a good kid with all the desire needed. Afforded a opportunity for whatever reason. Time will tell
Truth is if he wasn’t Lebrons kid he wouldn’t be in the nba. Good kid or not his basketball play so far in his career says he’s not a good basketball player
Guess he was a McDonald’s all American by accident too. Dude is still developing. Dont fault the kid because he’s not a superstar. He’s performing like a second round draft pick
Put put it it this this way way lugnut is the name a2a2wr
So Kerr only wins if his assistants are good, he basically admits it here haaha
Phil Jackson was the same way. He had Tex Winter and John Bach. One guy handled the offense, the other guy handled the defense, and Jackson handled the personalities.
The egos, and all the intricacies involved in minutes and relationships and touches and of course putting it all together and winning was Phil Jackson’s skill and contribution.
Jackson sure had many levels of his own on-court intelligence alongside having great assistants, Kerr’s success at GSW can best be defined as: “the Dray+Steph machine goes whirrr”.
I respected Kerr until he let Draymond continually act so out of pocket that he punched Poole, I’m sure you understand, Gary. Draymond’s spiral was 100% because of Kerr failing at his job. He doesn’t “handle personalities” well either because KD left and took like 3-5 more titles with him and KD did not have nice things to say about Steve.
Yes I get it Davey. But I guess the decision sometimes is that you kind of have to pick your spots.
As with Rodman and his unexcused absences and weekends away to Vegas unannounced, sometimes you take the good with the bad.
Yes draymond’s bad is pretty bad but the Warriors sort of need him. He’s Marty McSorley to Wayne Gretzky to use a hockey analogy.
I love Draymond and despite his suspensions last year, his play improved greatly over his prior 5 seasons. My point is GSW can find a better HC who gels with the players better than Steve Kerr. Plenty of those types who actually-do keep their hotheads cool.
I don’t understand his former player stance as he is a former player himself.
I guess he probably refers to Stackhouse as more of an exceptional physically gifted high scoring all star. Kerr probably thinks no one’s going to listen to a scrub even though he has a bunch of rings as a player. They’ll probably think, right place right time, type of NBA guy.
Stackhouse on the other hand was the next Michael Jordan if you guys remember. Maybe Kerr thinks Jerry has more credibility with the younger group?
Gary, are we sure we want to bring up Jordan in any Kerr convo? MJ was Draymond to Kerr’s Poole! Haha I am kidding around here
Plowden > Bronny
Bronny needs to grow at least 2 more inches to not be too small.
He’s 6 years older and plays the most important positions in the league right now…