Golden State Warriors: Kerr hints at limited minutes for youngsters

Anticipation was building all night for the Golden State Warriors‘ rookies to take their first steps onto an NBA court. However, minutes were scarce for Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody — a trend that might continue all season.

The Golden State Warriors’ rookies did not receive much burn in their first preseason game and it might be this way for a while.

The preseason is typically prime time for young players to get their feet wet and properly introduce themselves to the faster-paced professional level. However, it can also be a crucial time for playoff teams to build some early chemistry with their rotational players.

For Steve Kerr, the focus was on building chemistry among the current stars and new vets — not developing the rookies. As he said in the postgame interview, the Warriors are chasing wins this year.

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"“Jonathan (Kuminga) and Moses (Moody) are so young. They got a bunch of guys ahead of them who have been in this league and know what they are doing. So, they gotta earn their time, for sure. We’ll see how it all plays out. But, we are chasing wins this year.”Steve Kerr on limited minutes for the rookies"

Veteran names like Avery Bradley, Nemanja Bjelica, Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr. were among the first players off the bench against Portland. This collection of experienced talent proved to be helpful as the Warriors displayed some of their most fluid offense in years — jacking up a personal record for 3-pointers on mostly open looks.

Kuminga and Moody played a combined 23 minutes and attempted just seven shots together. Some early turnovers from Kuminga and a missed 3-pointer from Moody marked an uneventful start to their careers.

Of course, this is the point. Kerr sees no need to toss Kuminga and Moody into the frying pan. This would only hurt the Dubs’ chances of winning games and potentially damage the rookies’ confidence early on. Look no farther than the bumpy first season from James Wiseman and a rollercoaster two years for Jordan Poole.

The goal will be gradually easing Kuminga and Moody into the rotation. If they want to play, they better earn it. This prolonged development could pay off in a big way down the line as Kuminga and Moody are part of a long-term plan.

This is especially helpful for Kuminga, whose raw skillset could take time to come to fruition. Do not be shocked if Kuminga spends time in the G-League at some point this season. The same goes for Moody.

These minutes on the bench will not be wasted. The two youngsters have plenty of opportunities to learn from their veteran leaders and practice will be a chance to shine every day. When they are ready, they will play for real.