Warriors bench has been historically good to start the season

After a comeback win over the defending champion Celtics in Boston on Wednesday, the Warriors are off to a scorching 7-1 start, perched atop the Western Conference standings and looking every bit the championship contenders in the early stages of the 2024-25 season. While Golden State’s starting unit has been stellar, led by the black hole gravity of future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins’ two-way resurgence, Moses Moody’s floor-spacing (48.6% from three) and the defensive prowess of Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis, it’s been the bench that’s truly set the tone.

Through the first few weeks of the season, the Warriors’ second unit has been nothing short of historic, averaging 59.4 points per game — just a hair behind the starting five, which is putting up 61.8 points per game. This incredible production eclipses all other benches in the NBA this year and dwarfs the output of any reserve unit in the last 25 years. The closest comparison is the 2018-19 Los Angeles Clippers, whose bench averaged 53.2 points per contest.

In a league that’s increasingly embraced shorter rotations — like the Celtics, who typically featured just nine players per game en route to one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory — credit must go to head coach Steve Kerr for zig-zagging onto his own path. Kerr is a deploying a deep rotation, with 13 players averaging at least 12 minutes per contest. He has built a system where each bench player knows exactly what’s expected of them and can fully leverage their unique skill sets, a strategy that’s been pivotal to the Warriors’ early success.

Buddy Hield has emerged as the leader of Golden State’s bench unit, a high-volume shot-maker with a Billy the Kid trigger and logo range. He wears defenders out, averaging over two miles run per game despite playing just 26.1 minutes nightly, one of the highest figures for any reserve player in the league. Hield is currently the NBA’s top bench scorer, putting up 20.1 points per game while shooting a blistering 48.4% from three on 8.9 attempts per contest. At this pace, he’s firmly established himself as the early front-runner for Sixth Man of the Year.

After starting the first three games of the season, Steve Kerr moved Jonathan Kuminga to the second unit, and the change has paid off in a big way. He has flourished, averaging 16.2 points per game — third among all reserves — while shooting 41.7% from downtown and 48.4% overall. Initially disappointed by the move, Kuminga has channeled his anger into dominating opposing bench units, relentlessly charging into the paint with his runaway train rim attacks, proving an impossible cover.

Kyle Anderson has been his usual jack-of-all-trades self, providing solid defense and doing the little things that contribute to winning basketball. In just 16.3 minutes per game, Kevon Looney has been a force on the boards, leading the team with 8.4 rebounds per contest and consistently dominating the offensive glass. Brandin Podziemski, who has alternated between the starting lineup and the bench, has struggled with his three-point shooting but still leads the squad in plus-minus at +14.3. De'Anthony Melton, Lindy Waters III and Gary Payton II have also been key contributors on the defensive end, bringing energy and toughness whenever they’ve been on the floor.

Can the Warriors win a chip with such a deep rotation? The answer is a resounding … maybe. No championship team has ever featured this much depth. Only time will tell if Steve Kerr’s approach will prove effective in the postseason, but one thing is clear: Golden State has emerged as a serious title contender.