Dub Hub: Warriors fall to 16th in ESPN’s NBA Power Rankings

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Thursday, January 2nd.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Warriors drop to 16th in ESPN’s latest NBA Power Rankings.
• Brandin Podziemski ruled out for Thursday’s game vs. 76ers.
• Pistons’ guard Jaden Ivey stretchered off with a broken fibula during Thursday’s game vs. Magic.

The Golden State Warriors are looking to shake off their struggles as they enter 2025. Despite a promising 12-3 start, the team has gone just 4-13 in their last 17 games, evening their record at 16-16. This slide has dropped the Warriors to 16th in ESPN’s latest NBA Power Rankings, a far cry from their early-season peak at No. 2.

Via ESPN:

The Warriors’ slide continues as they have lost 13 of their past 17 games, highlighted by a second crushing loss to the Cavaliers on Monday. While Stephen Curry admits that the Warriors have been just “mid” this season, there have been a couple of bright spots in the past week. Jonathan Kuminga scored a career-high 34 points in consecutive games, with the latter coming in a win over Phoenix with Curry and Draymond Green playing alongside him. That’s significant because it shows Kuminga might be starting to figure out how to play his best with the two superstars after his two previous career-high games came with the two stars out. Dennis Schroder also made his first big winning plays as a Warrior in the final 1:23 of the win over Phoenix with a 3-pointer, securing a crucial loose ball and sinking late free throws. — Youngmisuk

Last week, Golden State ranked 13th in these rankings. However, following a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, they continued their free fall as Steph Curry candidly admitted that the team has been “very average” this season. Head coach Steve Kerr echoed Curry’s sentiments, recognizing the Warriors’ current mediocrity.

The Warriors will need to find consistency and build on bright spots like Jonathan Kuminga’s growth and their ninth-ranked defense if they hope to climb back into contention. With plenty of season left, the Warriors still have time to prove they’re more than just a “mid” team.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, January 2nd:

Warriors News:

Warriors report card: Team grades for slumping roster to open 2025 | NBC Sports Bay Area

Coaching

The social media pitchforks automatically come out for Kerr when the Warriors start losing. Is it his fault Buddy can’t buy a bucket? That Schröder’s shot is way off, even when the Warriors ran pick-and-roll over and over again in a game where Curry and Green sat? That their two stars are starting to look their age?

He can be questioned for making a show of it being Kuminga’s time to be a starter, only for him to be back to the bench in no time. But his public calling out of Kuminga also appeared to be heard loud and clear.

Kerr has shortened his rotation, but he’s still searching for the right combinations.

Grade: B

How Steph’s work ethic made lasting first impression on Waters | NBC Sports Bay Area

“It was like a learning curve for me, just to watch him,” Waters said. “Obviously, you get to see all of his highlights and stuff, but to be in the locker room with him and to talk with him and watch how he carries himself as a man, it’s amazing.”

“Not long at all,” Waters said when asked how long it took him to notice Curry’s work ethic. “Maybe the first day or two, I was like, ‘OK, everything people say about him is true, and he is a workhorse, and he’s really about this.’ “

Out of the rotation, Warriors’ Gui Santos prioritizes patience, positivity | San Francisco Chronicle

“I just do exactly what they ask me to do — play hard, play the right way, make the right plays every time,” he said. “I love when I go down there and get some reps and remember how to play basketball for real. That helped me when I came up here.”

That doesn’t mean sitting for Golden State isn’t challenging for Santos, accepting of what he can’t control and committed to improving: “I keep working. I keep doing my stuff and after this process and everything … just be ready.”

NBA draft asset rankings: Seven-year outlooks for all 30 teams | ESPN

The Warriors have enough first-round capital and young players to take a big swing if an All-Star becomes available. Including the rights to trade a top-20 first in 2030, Golden State is allowed to trade an unprotected first in 2026 and 2028. They are also allowed to swap firsts in all seven seasons.

Incoming first-round picks: 7

Own first in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 (if 1-20), 2031

Tradable first-round picks: 3

Second-round picks: 2

Outgoing first-round picks: Top-20 protected first to Golden State (2030)

Warriors’ injury updates for Thursday’s game vs. the 76ers

NBA News:

Jimmy Butler on whether he wants to stay with Miami Heat: ‘That’s a good question’ | The Athletic

As trade rumors continue to swirl around Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, the forward responded Tuesday with “that’s a good question” when asked by reporters whether he wants to stay in Miami.

“Who knows? I don’t, but right now I’m here, so I’m going to make the most of it, and I’m gonna compete, and I am gonna win,” Butler said. “That’s all that I got. It’s a lot of talk. It is a lot of noise, which I’m cool with. I love that. I thrive in that. But it keeps all y’all wondering.”

NBA Storylines: January’s strength of schedule rankings | NBA

It’s a new year and a new month. The season is still just 39% complete, so there is plenty of time for teams unsatisfied with their place in the standings to make a run.

Of course, a team’s ability to make a run depends in part on the strength of their opponents. So here’s a schedule breakdown for January.

Note: A rest-advantage game (or rest-disadvantage game) is one where one team played the day/night before, but the other (the team with the advantage) did not. Teams are 65-49 (.570) in rest-advantage games, 34-27 (.557) at home and 31-22 (.585) on the road, through Dec. 31.

Pistons’ guard Jaden Ivey suffers a broken left fibula vs. Magic

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Kenny Atkinson “finished school” with the Warriors

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said he wouldn’t be the coach he is today without coaching for the Warriors between 2021 and the end of the 2023-24 season.

“I don’t think I was a complete coach until I came here and, quite honestly, learned from the best. The best players, the best coach,” Atkinson said in a pregame media availability on December 30th.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.