Golden State Warriors: How Moses Moody can thrive as a sixth man

Most teams across the NBA would have been thrilled to have the haul the Golden State Warriors just had in the 2021 NBA Draft. While the Dubs have some concerns about mismatched timelines among their core — the additions of Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are exciting.

Today, I want to take a closer look into Moody and how he can find success in his rookie season for the Dubs. He was an absolute steal for them at 14th in the order and can be an instant impact player.

Moses Moody has the potential to be an instant contributor for the Golden State Warriors. Here is how he can thrive.

First, Moody has to understand that he is entering the league under unique circumstances. He’s playing behind two of the greatest guards of all time in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. This alone would set him back in the rotation — but he also has to compete with the likes of Jordan Poole, who had a breakout sophomore season.

From the jump, Moody will be playing a smaller role than most lottery picks. The Warriors will be counting on him for short bursts of playing time as they keep the bigger picture of a championship in mind. Thankfully, he’s not alone as James Wiseman and Kuminga will also be learning the ropes as they go.

So, we’ve established Moody will be on a tight leash early on. How can he make the most of his limited minutes?

The answer lays in his on-ball defense. Moody showed skill as a defender at the point of attack in college. He used his phenomenal wingspan and agility to meet ball-handlers early on the perimeter. Strengthening this skill and being a pest for opponents will open more playing time for Moody.

From there, he can shine as an offensive prospect. Moody is a fairly consistent shooter, clipping over 80 percent of his free throws and nailing 35.8 percent of his 3-point attempts. Moody will be a key member of the rotation if he can reliably hit open jump shots and play defense every night.

Moody is already comfortable playing off-ball, which should bode well for him in the Warriors’ free-flowing scheme. I’d expect him to have his fair share of growing pains as he plays under a microscope in Golden State — but Moody should be able to have a successful rookie season by sticking to his strengths as a defender and scoring threat.