Blue Man Hoop
Fansided

Patrick Baldwin Jr. could shoot his way into the Golden State Warriors rotation

By Evan Quarnstrom

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: Rudy Gay #22 of the Utah Jazz looks to drive to the basket while defended by Patrick Baldwin Jr. #7 of the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 28, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: Rudy Gay #22 of the Utah Jazz looks to drive to the basket while defended by Patrick Baldwin Jr. #7 of the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 28, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Golden State Warriors rookie Patrick Baldwin Jr. is making his case for more playing time by displaying prowess for basketball’s most in-demand skill: shooting.

The Dubs’ injury-depleted roster has opened an opportunity for last year’s 28th overall pick to play meaningful minutes and, thus far, his shooting has been astounding. In the last three games ‘PBJ’ has played, against the Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, and Atlanta Hawks, he confidently sunk 10 of his 19 three-point attempts and shot 54% overall from the field. He was also a team-high +13 in the Warriors’ Dec 29th win over the Jazz.

If Patrick Baldwin Jr. can continue to shoot the long ball at an above-average clip, it will be hard for Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to leave him out of the rotation.

Since the departure of Kevin Durant in 2019, the Warriors have never been able to replace the frontcourt shooting they lost. Baldwin Jr. is presumably the Warriors’ long-term answer to that roster flaw, but no one expected a meaningful contribution from the rookie just yet in a roster that is already packed with young players battling for floor time.

But it’s hard to ignore a 6’9” forward who is hitting from deep at that rate. PBJ’s fate for the rest of the season will be determined by his ability to show that this recent shooting performance is his identity, and not a fluke, as well as his ability to guard opposing forwards.

Coming into the league profiled as a shooter, Baldwin Jr. has yet to prove himself over any meaningful sample size. In his injury-riddled college season, in which he only appeared in 11 games, he connected on just 27% of his nearly six three-point attempts per game.

His nine games in the G League with Santa Cruz haven’t been much better. He has hit just 30% of his 6.2 attempts per game. However, G-League reps and the greater floor spacing of the NBA game seem to be playing into Baldwin Jr.’s strength, getting him open shots that he’s making the most of.

Next. The further heart-warming aspect from Klay Thompson’s 50-piece against the Hawks. dark

It’s possible that PBJ could regress to his G-League average, but he if keeps up this stellar shooting, the Warriors may just have struck gold again with another late first-round pick, and he will certainly demand more playing time.

Home/Warriors News