SACRAMENTO -- The Warriors unveiled the future Wednesday night, and teenagers Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody showed enough promise in their debut to create optimism within the fan base.
Kuminga and Moody were in the starting lineup and combined for 37 points as the Warriors concluded their two-game California Classic stint with a 94-87 loss to the Miami Heat at Golden 1 Center.
The Warriors departed immediately afterward for Las Vegas, where they will participate in Part II of Summer League beginning this weekend.
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Here are three observations from the evening:
The Kuminga File
The good: The No. 7 overall pick is spectacular in transition and attacks the hoop with a vengeance as one would expect from a kid who spent formative years studying the late Kobe Bryant. His footwork is good for an 18-year-old; he’s confident enough to pull off a Eurostep move and get a bucket. Going to the rim, he displays the wiry strength of a young Kawhi Leonard, but with more of an above-the-rim element.
The bad: His shot mechanics are inconsistent, clearly a work in progress best illustrated on an airballed open 3 from the left wing in the first quarter. He fumbled a perfect bounce pass from Moody in the fourth quarter, missing out on an easy dunk. Kuminga’s court awareness and ball discipline are lacking, which is how he ended up with zero assists but six turnovers.
Golden State Warriors
The stats: 18 points, 7-of-14 shooting from the field, including 1-of-4 beyond the arc; three rebounds, two steals. He was plus-7 over 25 minutes.
The Moody File
The good: The No. 14 overall pick’s corner 3-ball looks tight, accurate and quick enough to succeed. He glides about the court and seems aware of activity at either end. Though only 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, he’s willing to get physical on defense and also dive toward the glass in search of rebounds. His hoops intellect is evident. He feels the game.
The bad: He seemed to wear down in the second half, resulting in short shots (4-of-12 from the field after halftime) and some sloppy moments. He also was whistled for a silly reach foul along the baseline that he instantly regretted.
The stats: team-high 19 points, 7-of-18 shooting, 2-of-4 from deep; seven rebounds, two assists. He was plus-1 over 24 minutes.
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The Jessup File
The good: His effort was commendable, and he’s going to need all of it to reach the NBA. He made both of his free throws.
The bad: Though he started, he made no impact on either end and generally got lost in traffic. His jump shot is his strong suit, but he only took three shots, missing each, including his only launch from distance. That’s not entirely on him, as team ball movement was less than stellar.
The stats: 2 points, 0-of-3 shooting, 0-1 from deep, four rebounds, one steal. He was minus-21 over a team-high 29 minutes.