Steve Kerr takes new approach with young players to start 2025-26 season

Amid widespread talk that the Golden State Warriors are "old and brittle," head coach Steve Kerr caught everyone off guard in his team's season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Kerr injected youth into the starting lineup in the form of Jonathan Kuminga, 23, and Brandin Podziemski, 22, a decision that paid off in a big way in the 119-109 victory. 

While Kuminga finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists while Podziemski added seven points, seven rebounds and two assists. Most importantly, both played 33 minutes apiece, a sign that Kerr trusted them in key spots and didn't yank them when they made mistakes.

Will Steve Kerr continue to trust youth?

That wasn't the case last season, when both Kuminga and Podziemski were in and out of the starting lineup, and were regularly pulled from games when they erred — especially on the defensive end.  

The lack of trust between Kuminga and Kerr reached a boiling point in the playoffs, as the Congolese forward received four DNPs in the first-round series against the Houston Rockets. He ultimately saw the floor in the second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, only after Stephen Curry was sidelined with a hamstring strain.

Warriors youngsters to get longer leash?

Perhaps Kerr had an entire offseason to reflect on those trust issues, and he's willing to give Kuminga and Podziemski more leeway this year.

After Tuesday's win, Kerr got candid about several heart-to-heart conversations he had with Kuminga this summer.

"I think he has really, really matured," Kerr said of Kuminga, via ESPN's Anthony Slater. "He had a great camp. We've had really good conversations. I think he just has a better sense of what's needed now compared to past years...We have to remember he just turned 23...For him, it hasn't been easy to find minutes on our team, and I'm really proud of him for staying with it and maturing."

Kerr also praised Kuminga for being careful with his shot selection and for not driving into traffic like he did in his first four seasons. 

There's also the theory that Golden State is willing to showcase Kuminga and Podziemski more to improve their trade value. After all, the Bucks might make Giannis Antetokounmpo available before February, at which point the Warriors could have two talented young players to include in a trade package. 

Regardless, the Warriors have everything to gain from Podziemski and Kuminga turning into quality starters in the NBA.