The Golden State Warriors’ 2025 preseason is about more than winning exhibition games. In that two week span, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr must evaluate the team’s new arrivals and re-evaluate Jonathan Kuminga. In fact, all eyes will be on Kuminga’s role in the rotation, while the recently signed De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford keep adding new layers to Kerr’s puzzle.
What Warriors HC Steve Kerr Needs to Learn Before Opening Night
New Arrivals and Rotation Balance
The Warriors’ 2025 preseason could be one of the most important in years. It’s their first real chance to show how Melton and Horford allow for more flexibility to experiment on rotation.
As a two-way guard, Melton looks like a great fit alongside Stephen Curry and company. His previous stint in Golden State was brief due to a season-ending ACL tear. Even so, as he played with this team just last season, he already understands their chemistry, playbooks, and style of play. Prior to his injury, he averaged 1.2 steals per game and consistently brought high-intensity defense. His high IQ plays made him an excellent complementary player in both a starting and bench role.
In the preseason, Kerr could utilize him in the preseason to hopefully tackle the team’s perimeter defense struggles from last season. However, it’s worth mentioning that Melton is still recovering from his ACL tear and the Warriors “anticipate he’ll miss the early portion of the regular season,” per ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
Dub Nation has been demanding an experienced center for years, and the Warriors are no strangers to being one of the league’s smaller teams. That’s where Horford comes in. Not only does the five-time NBA All-Star and 2024 NBA champion bolster the front court, but he also reinforces their veteran mentality—a blueprint they’ve found success in over the past decade.
A stretch-big, Horford averaged 6.2 rebounds per game last season while shooting 42% from the field. In the preseason, Kerr can put his stabilizing interior presence on display. He’ll also get to experiment with another player that balances veteran savvy and youthful energy.
Jonathan Kuminga’s New Role
There’s no doubt Kuminga is under a lot of pressure this season.
Once frustrated over injuries, limited minutes, and contract negotiations, the Warriors have agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million deal to end Kuminga’s contract stalemate. Now the real test begins.
Kerr must decide whether Kuminga is ready for a bigger role in the rotation. Whether it’s demonstrating his trademark explosiveness off the bench or proving he can drop a consistent 25+ point game alongside the starters, the preseason is his proving ground. More than anybody, Kuminga has to use Golden State’s preseason to his advantage. With new additions crowding the roster, it’s harder than ever to make the cut.
All in all, the challenge is learning where Kuminga fits best: is he the perfect sixth man, or is it time for Kerr to finally trust him as a consistent starter?
Picking Up Where They Left Off
The Warriors already have a foundation, so they may not need to overhaul their formula.
With the arrival of Jimmy Butler at February’s trade deadline, Golden State’s performances surged last season. After stringing together a strong winning run, the Dubs went 23-7 with Butler in the lineup and showed glimpses of their championship DNA. It could be argued that the only reason they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2025 NBA Playoffs was due to Curry being sidelined by injury. The Warriors were left without their leader and primary shot-maker, inevitably leading to an exit.
So, does Kerr even have much to change this upcoming season?
Integrating and balancing the new arrivals should cover the gap where the Warriors lacked depth, while still allowing the core that thrived late last season to continue building momentum. They might already have the foundation for a deep playoff run and perhaps even their eighth NBA championship within reach. Keeping that in mind, Kerr must learn in the Warriors’ 2025 preseason not to reinvent the wheel and disrupt the chemistry that fueled last year.
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