After spending nearly three full seasons on two-way deals, Clippers guard Amir Coffey graduated to a regular roster role with the team late in the 2021/22 season, then inked a three-year, $11MM deal that summer. This year, Coffey has emerged as a critical role player on an injury-laden L.A. club, including starting multiple recent games.
As Janis Carr of The Orange County Register writes, Coffey has been enjoying his bigger role this season. He’s averaging a career-best 10.1 points per game on .496/.450/.853 shooting, while also contributing 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.5 steals per contest.
“It felt good,” Coffey said of a Wednesday start in which he scored 18 points while shooting 6-of-10 from the field. “I try not to get into minutes-wise or coming off the bench or starting. I just try to do my job when my name is called, so I got it going early tonight.”
Coffey reflected on his journey from being a borderline NBA player on a tenuous two-way contract to a real contributor on a 10-7 club.
“The G League is a grind, it’s a lot,” Coffey said. “So, just getting over that hump and getting to this point I’m in now, it means a lot. Like you said, the unseen hours – it’s thousands of ’em – just working on your game every day, trying to get better every summer and to end up in a position. This is a blessing.”
There’s more out of California:
- Warriors guard Moses Moody has learned how to best extract wisdom out of All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry, he tells Mark Medina of Sportskeeda. “Steph is Steph,” Moody said. “He’s teaching and coaching with all the gems that he gives on the plane and in the locker room in conversations. He’s not going to offer it up for no reason if you don’t want it. He’s not going to force anything on you. But if you go ask him, he’ll open up and tell you whatever you want to hear. He’s smart. He knows what he’s doing in all aspects of life.” Moody inked a three-year, $39MM rookie scale contract extension with the Warriors last month that will kick in next season.
- Early signs seem to point to a bounce-back season for Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. An extended illness to his father, former NBA wing Mitchell Wiggins, forced Andrew to miss time in each of the last two seasons, and appeared to somewhat impact his rhythm on the court. Mitchell passed in September at 64. “The last couple of years have been very tough on him on a personal level,” head coach Steve Kerr said of Andrew. “I think he has some peace of mind. He came into camp in great shape.” Wiggins seems to have regained his perimeter defensive acumen, plus his scoring upside. Across 14 games this season for the West’s top-seeded Warriors, Wiggins is averaging 17.4 points per game on .477/.408/.770 shooting.
- Lakers forward Rui Hachimura returned to the starting lineup after a four-game injury absence due to a left ankle sprain, but it did nothing to save L.A. from the opponent that has been its Achilles heel the last several years, the Nuggets, on Saturday, writes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. Los Angeles led at halftime, but collapsed in the third frame. “We were in a good rhythm and then we kind of relaxed for some reason,” Hachimura said. “And the third quarter, they just played harder. And we didn’t fight back. That was the game.” Denver decimated Los Angeles at home, 127-102. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Nuggets have won 12 of their past 13 encounters with the Lakers, which includes two playoff meetings in successive seasons.
Well it looks like Moses Moody has listened to at least part of Steph Curry’s wisdom, and that’s this: SHOOT THE BALL.
It would be awesome if Moses could be step-by-step with Curry on the other aspects of NBA basketball, like ball handling, vision, dribble drives to the basket, and quickness with the ball. Then my friends, we’d be getting somewhere !!
But as far as I can see, during Steph’s pregame 30 minute warm up routine, I’ve seen neither hide nor hair of Moses Moody.
He’s probably in the locker room chatting it up, looking at his phone, or making sure his hair and sweatband and are just perfect.
I’m hoping some of Curry’s other wisdom in addition to shooting sticks with Moses Moody. Looking at his body one can only wonder how great he could be.
Gary you always forget Moody is still just 22 and Kerr has never lifted a finger to properly develop him, so he is behind – Kuminga is the same. Podz got gifted that playing run last year that those 2 deserved more because they are older, and Podz turned around and showed everyone who he is: GP2. We already have that guy.
Why not just start Moody and Kuminga and play them for 35 MPG no matter what happens? We likely will still win, because Steph and Dray, but Kerr once again has proven he simply is bad at developing young players who don’t look like they could be his actual son.
In the NBA and I’m sure in any league, you don’t gift players major minutes. They earn them in practice. That’s a fact of basketball worldwide.
Here’s a favorite quote that I like to tell young guys complaining about minutes. Can also apply to the workforce, and really a lot of areas of life…
“Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
-Steve Martin.
But what exactly did Podz do to earn that? He played well as a burst player for a game and then Kerr said “He deserves Lebron minutes now” but he is has and will ALWAYS be a burst player, exactly like GP2 is used. All of these units Kerr has run this year with no true playmaker but still cook, proving we dont really need a PG for the non-Steph minutes, we don’t even need Podz anymore tbh. Moody is staying the whole season because his contract is poison pilled until the end of year, so why not give him a proper run when you never see him complaining or being a bad teammate? Moody has a complete profile, he scores, he defends, but he doesnt work well with certain units right now. I think the questions he should be asking Steph are “How can you and I cook better together on-court?”
Moody does not play sufficient NBA defense. He gets lost too often or picked off and trails his guy, causing the big man to come over and help, which leaves the other big man open for a rebound because Moody didn’t slide over and box out. That’s just one scenario.
He doesn’t do it in practice and he doesn’t do it in games.
Kerr will not play a guy just to play a guy. NO COACH WILL PLAY A GUY JUST TO PLAY A GUY.
I hope Moody continues to get in Curry’s ear because I know he’s capable of so much more than what he’s providing today.
But you can make that claim about anyone, he has the ability to play great defense and has flashed it before, even in the last couple games, agree to disagree.
You don’t watch practices, Gary. Don’t lie.
Kerr plays guys just to play guys ALL THE TIME. ITS THE ONLY THING HE HAS CONSISTENTLY DONE SINCE 2019.
So you agree Moody is capable of good defense?
Gary: you’re wrong here. You were wrong about Luka and you’re wrong about Moody and now you’re defending Kerr’s malpractice just to make up some phony reality where Moses Moody is the worst player in history. No one on the internet thinks this except on this page, it’s wild.
If Moody is being mistreated as badly as you say he is, why did he sign the contract extension? Why hasn’t he requested a trade? Other teams have scouts that can see how much he is being misused? They would certainly pursue him if they felt he had more untapped potential. Teams see the value in Podz and have inquired about his availability in a trade.
Requesting a trade while on a rookie scale contract? How long is that list? Was always going to sign that first big boy contract.
So, you agree with Davey J that Kerr is doing everything possible to hold back Moody’s career? Do you really believe that Kerr doesn’t want to win another Finals?
What would it take for Moses Moody to approach that Fraser dude with the beard and say,
“Hey, I want you to show me everything that you show Steph Curry and I want you to work me out in every single way that you work out with Steph Curry.”
And if it’s not Fraser what about another coach? Wouldn’t that be something?
Super glad to see Andrew Wiggins stepping up his game this year. Beautiful to see him on the other side of the pain and uncomfortable situation with his father.
We’ve seen the player he’s capable of being and perhaps we’ll see it again this season? It sure seems to be trending in that direction.
Wiggins had one truly bad season for the Warriors, that was last season. Other than the personal stuff he’s had going on he’s been very solid. They wouldn’t have gotten their last ring without him
Wiggins has been a top 10 underperformer every year of his career except 2022 and hopefully now, 2025. Ben Simmons is #1 but Wiggins is definitely on the list.
Ya Taco, I agree he’s been solid but the money he’s received so far and the results he’s provided on the floor hasn’t been quite an match. I’m not bashing him but since you brought it up, I can remember for instance that the Timberwolves gave up a first round pick and took back a crappy player just to be done with him.
Playing for the Warriors organization is actually a best case scenario for a guy like Andrew Wiggins. Golden state, the heat, the spurs, and a couple other franchises truly bring out the best in players. Yes he’s solid now but he was quite the disappointment most of his career.
But I still stand on my statement above which is I’m happy for him that he’s performing at a high level and he’s passed the difficult time with his father. Great to see it and I hope it continues from here and it looks like it is trending that way.
Wiggins is so much of a better player when he is aggressive. With Thompson gone he needs to be the #2 scorer. Last night Spurs was double and triple teaming Curry so they need another go to player.
It’s November 24, and there’s 4 over .500 teams in the East, and 12 in the West. What a joke.
Comparison can tell you many things
Jalen Green stats per game
18.7 points
Field goal 38%
3 points FG 31%
Wiggins pet game
17.4 points
FG 48%
3 points FG 41%