On today’s Dub Hub:
Despite the Golden State Warriors taking care of business with a 126-113 home win over the New York Knicks on Thursday night, team talk was focused elsewhere. Earlier that day, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Jonathan Kuminga officially wanted out of Golden State on the first day of his trade eligibility.
It’s the kind of story that can sit on top of a locker room — but the Warriors have made it clear they won’t.
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Veteran leaders Stephen Curry and Draymond Green both dismissed the idea that Kuminga’s condition will be a distraction, insisting the team is still focused on winning.
That same message was echoed by Jimmy Butler, who has served as a mentor to Kuminga since he arrived in Golden State. Butler stressed that the locker room continues to support Kuminga and ultimately wants the best for him moving forward.
Thankfully for the Warriors, this situation did not have a negative impact on the court. Golden State is 7-3 in its last 10 games and now sits four games over .500 for the first time all season. As long as the success keeps coming, the message in the locker room is consistent with the results — at least for now, this isn’t a distraction.
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For more on this and other news surrounding the NBA, here’s our latest coverage of Friday, January 16:
Hero stories:
The Warriors prove that Kuminga is ‘not a distraction’ in the Knicks’ victory ESPN
Kuminga and Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke after the shootout on Thursday morning. Kerr said he preferred to keep the conversation private, but admitted the whole ordeal was a “tough situation” for everyone involved.
How Warriors’ Jimmy Butler reinvented the art of free throw shooting: ‘You’re going to mess with me now’ | San Francisco Chronicle
Also notable here: Butler, unlike Doncic, rarely complains to officials about calls or non-calls. That habit reminds Kerr of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, fierce rivals who were determined not to constantly chirp at the refs.
“Jimmy is the same way – he doesn’t want to show weakness,” Kerr said. “It’s a quality I like a lot. That’s powerful and it’s good for the team.”
And so did Butler, standing shakily at the free-throw line, having received a whistle to silence his opponent.
Steph Curry played with a quad contusion vs. Knicks
NBA news:
As Klay Thompson moves to 4th on the 3s made list, his love for the game keeps him going | Athletic
“I love shooting the basketball,” Thompson said. “I was very lucky to grow up with a hoop in my driveway. Really fun. Broken rim. Big backboard. It was always a source of joy and an escape for me to escape from schoolwork or whatever tasks I had that day. It was like my favorite activity just to hear the net move.
“The fact that this happened is amazing and it motivates me to keep going. I have a lot of years left. But it’s because I love shooting the basketball. It’s always been my favorite thing to do.”
Magic’s Anthony Black throws down the dunk of the year vs. Grizzlies
If you missed out on Golden State of Mind:
Warriors vs. Knicks player grades: Jimmy Butler III and Steph Curry take over as bench lights up
Brandin Podziemski
26 minutes, 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 8-for-9 shooting, 2-for-3 threes, 1-for-2 free throws, 96.2% TS, +22
Podziemski was, to quote Mark Jones, deep in his wallet like fries. Hook guns. Floating. Inefficient rain collectors. They are three. Podziemski looked like he was playing a game of HORSE on the Chase Center field, and he was winning in no time. And he did all that while making all the little plays that contributed to the win.
Three turnovers were a lot but, like Moody, that picks nits when everything else is flawless.
Distance: A+
Post-game bonus: Best for adding/removing from a group.
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