3 takeaways from Golden State Warriors first Las Vegas SL action

The Golden State Warriors made their much anticipated Las Vegas Summer League debut Thursday night, taking on the New York Knicks. The Warriors came up short 101-88, but there was plenty to take away from the game both good and bad.

Summer league is an exciting time for young teams to show off their newly acquired draft picks. Usually, for a team fresh off a championship, there isn’t much to see.

The Golden State Warriors lost in their first Las Vegas Summer League performance, but there were still a plethora of takeaways.

Thanks to Golden State’s fantastic front office they have managed to both compete for championships while also building for the future. Guys like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, James Wiseman, and Quinndary Weatherspoon were the main ones to watch for while in the Desert.

Moses Moody

One player who certainly did not disappoint was Moses Moody.

Moody poured in 34 points on just 13 shots. He was able to accomplish this by getting to the free-throw line 17 times and making 15 of those. Moody looked completely in control and comfortable while being the best player on the floor.

To go along with the high scoring, Moses added in two blocks as well. This is something that Moody did very well in the California Classic and has mentioned his desire to become a defensive weapon for the Dubs.

Jonathan Kuminga

Unfortunately for Dub fans who tuned in tonight, Jonathan Kuminga really struggled.

Kuminga went 2-for-10 from the field, 0-for-4 from behind the arc, and 0-for-4 from the free-throw line. In fairness to him, he did not play in the California Classic and the Knicks are known for their tenacious defense.

You can live with the poor shooting from a guy who is rusty, but the 5 turnovers and only 2 rebounds is what disappoints you. Right from the start, Kuminga looked like he was trying too hard to dominate the game rather than let it come to him.

After his first stint, you could see the frustration building, however, that did not stop the young player from leading his teammates in and out of the huddle. I expect a massive bounce-back game for Kuminga in the next one.

Quinndary Weatherspoon

A personal favorite of mine, I was lobbying for more Weathersoon minutes after that impressive display he had in Phoenix on Christmas Day. Sign me up for Weatherspoon to take over that GPII role alongside of Moody this upcoming season. Weatherspoon is an absolute pest when it comes to the defensive end and he showed it tonight.

He had the tough assignments of matching up with McBride and Grimes who are both great scoring guards for New York.

McBride went 3-for-10 from the floor and Grimes a tough 8-for-21. Of course, they got their buckets, but at times there were possessions where Quinndary was simply wreaking havoc. If he can continue to improve his 3-point shot, I could see him filling in a roll next season like GPII’s last year.

Final Thoughts

There were a few nice surprises tonight. One was from the newest addition Mac McClung. You may know this name from his viral dunks in high school, the Warriors just picked him up from the Lakers roster and he had a great debut.

A solid, 17 points while going 3/3 from behind the arch. I like his explosiveness and unselfishness at the point guard spot, however, I didn’t expect to see this much improvement from three.

Finally, two guys who had great runs at the California Classic didn’t have the nights they were hoping for.

Gui Santos and Lester Quinones have been a nice surprise for the Warriors but didn’t show up tonight in limited time. I’m looking for them to have more of an impact next game. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for James Wiseman as well in this summer league.

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