The NBA preseason provides a chance for teams to try new concepts and trot out interesting lineup configurations to discover positive changes, and the Golden State Warriors may have successfully cashed in on that opportunity after one exhibition game.
Golden State picked up a 111-103 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday to kick off their new campaign, and it appears as though they found a future staple in their starting rotation in the process.
Following the win, the Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr declared his affinity for the team’s small-ball starting group in a post-game press conference. Kerr also highlighted a specific interest in their former No. 14 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and his place within the lineup moving forward.
“What I like about this small lineup is that it really empowers Moses (Moody) to be that disruptor defensively, which he was right away,” Kerr told ESPN’s Anthony Slater on Sunday night.
“He had a couple deflections, you could feel his presence right away, and then he has this great shooting night.”
“I love starting Moses for that reason.”
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In just 15 minutes of action, Moses Moody shined on both ends of the floor thanks to his defensive versatility and knock-down three-point shooting.
The 23-year-old contributed a game-high 19 points while knocking down five of his seven attempts from distance, registering a plus-minus figure of +21. The Warriors’ legendary 4-time NBA champion Stephen Curry also poured in a quick 14 points on a 71.4% field goal percentage in the first half.
Golden State saw plenty of success with Moody in their starting lineup to finish off the 2024-25 regular season after Jimmy Butler arrived on the scene via trade from the Miami Heat, and Kerr will be aiming to utilize the 2022 NBA champion as a key starter once again this year.
Moody’s energy and consistent outside shot-making was on full display against a Lakers team missing Luka Dončić, LeBron James and others, giving Kerr plenty of reason to continue relying on the former lottery pick to begin games.
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