Juan Toscano-Anderson is Golden State Warriors’ secret weapon

The Golden State Warriors are loaded with numerous players who will garner attention this season. One who is flying slyly under the radar, however, is Juan Toscano-Anderson — the high energy forward who is going to grit and grind his way to success.

JTA quickly became a fan favorite for his relentless pursuit of the basketball. He has no problem getting physical and has proven time and time again that he will lay his body on the line if it means earning even one more possession for his team.

Remember when he flipped over the scorer’s table last season against Boston? That extra effort led to a crucial 3-pointer from Stephen Curry — which ultimately lifted the Warriors to victory.

Juan Toscano-Anderson is the best secret weapon the Golden State Warriors have to offer in the 2021-22 NBA season.

Anderson has played only a minimal role with the Warriors during his two seasons in the Bay. However, he began to insert himself deeper into the lineup when his never-ending hustle started to translate to wins with the Dubs going 11-4 to end last season. During this run, JTA played 29.2 minutes a night and averaged 8.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals.

The Dubs relied on JTA to provide a jolt of electricity to their bench unit. His muscular frame combined with his bulldog mentality makes Anderson a quality defender who can cover multiple positions.

And, he has flashed a little bit of Draymond Green on offense, serving as a strong screener and impressive passer. That is to say, Anderson consistently makes the correct reads and understands how and when to make a pass.

Nothing major will change in Anderson’s game this season. He is 28 years old and has some obvious weak points such as 3-point shooting and overall shot creation for himself. Anderson will likely play a minimal role once again with a flurry of wings like Andrew Wiggins, Otto Porter, Andre Iguodala and Jonathan Kuminga all contesting him for minutes.

Nevertheless, JTA is going to enter the game with fire in his eyes each and every time. There is no question he will be ready when his number is called and his ability to muck it up and throw a wrench into the opponents’ gameplan will be valuable throughout the season for Golden State.

In a season that will be dominated by the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Jordan Poole, James Wiseman and the others — JTA will be a hidden weapon waiting to be deployed whenever his energy is needed.