Ranking Golden State Warriors from the 2022-23 season – Anthony Lamb
With the 2022-23 season having come to an end, we look back and review every player that took to the floor for the Golden State Warriors. Players are ranked on performance, with some of that based on preseason expectations.
It was a somewhat weird first season at the Golden State Warriors for Anthony Lamb. Quickly earning the trust of head coach Steve Kerr, he also became a whipping boy for fans who believed the franchise’s youngsters, namely Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, should have been playing more in front of him.
After 26 games across two seasons with Houston and San Antonio, Lamb was signed to a two-way contract with the Warriors just before the start of the season. While he was making a surprising impact on the floor, Lamb’s place on the roster was under constant questioning given the accusation of sexual assault placed against him from his time at Vermont.
After a positive regular season, Anthony Lamb could remain at the Golden State Warriors even if it’s not on the main roster.
The 25-year-old played in just one of Golden State’s first nine games, but quickly became a regular after 16 points in a nine-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on November 4. A beneficiary of the Warriors’ early bench struggles, Lamb became a dependable option for Kerr with his three-point shooting and rebounding.
Despite holding a 50-game limit on a two-way, Lamb played in 41 of Golden State’s 42 games after that initial game against the Pelicans. He had 13 double-digit scoring outputs in that period, including a career-high 26 against the Orlando Magic on January 7.
He missed six-straight games in early February as the Warriors sought to elongate the decision on his contract. However, Andrew Wiggins’ absence from February 14 saw Lamb rushed back into the rotation, playing 20+ minutes in all but one of his last eight games before his 50-game limit was reached.
Unsurprisingly, Golden State eventually decided to convert Lamb to a full contract, and he played the final 12 games of the season albeit in a slightly lesser role. The 6’6″ forward played just 15 minutes across the final two games, a sure fire sign of what was to come in the playoffs.
After being a regular contributor in 62 regular season games, Lamb failed to see meaningful minutes during the Warriors’ 13-game postseason run. Given the team’s need for a perimeter threat from the forward spot (behind Andrew Wiggins), it was somewhat of a surprise to see him completely absent throughout the entire stretch.
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Was his axing from the postseason a sign of things to come in the offseason? It would be a little strange if the Warriors brought him back after that, but he is eligible for one final season on a two-way deal. His averages of 6.7 points and 3.5 rebounds on 36.7% three-point shooting may appeal to another franchise if Golden State choose not to bring him back.