Looking back at all the great bench players the Golden State Warriors have put on the court with Stephen Curry in recent years, it seems crazy to think this current bench is the best version of them all and could be dominant moving forward. While that notion is certainly a bit of a stretch, this group has been playing really well of late, especially with Kelly Oubre Jr. coming off the bench.
In Oubre's last three appearances coming off the pine, he has scored 19, 23, and 24 points, respectively. Since Kerr introduced him to his new role with the second unit, he has been gold. If you had a healthy Klay Thompson when he returns from his injury and Oubre re-signs and comes off the bench, the Warriors would potentially have a player who possibly could win Sixth Man of the Year.
Oubre certainly has starter ability, and that's the reason he was reluctant to say he would be okay with coming off the bench when reporters recently asked him that question. But perhaps he's starting to see things differently now that he's coming off the bench, still playing big minutes, and making major contributions.
You also have veteran Kent Bazemore, who started a few years with the Atlanta Hawks. He has recently been really productive since being placed in the starting lineup with Stephen Curry. He gives you veteran leadership and an edge on defense that is always appreciated.
When it comes to the frontcourt, Kevon Looney and James Wiseman are the main options at center when healthy, with one of them then coming off the bench. Looney is a guy who knows the offense and constantly stays in the proper position on the floor. With Wiseman, you have an extremely talented player with a ton of potential. He could quickly turn into the future of the Warriors. Either guy would be an excellent fit for the Warriors coming off the bench, assuming they're both on the team next season.
Throw in Oakland native Juan Toscano-Anderson, Eric Paschall, Damion Lee, and a raw scorer in Jordan Poole, and you have a quality second unit that can do a lot of damage.
During the Dubs' championship runs, the bench was led by Andre Igoudala, who won a Finals MVP. Other veterans like Shaun Livingston, JaVale McGee, Leandro Barbosa, David West, and more played a massive part in helping the team win multiple rings. They had experienced guys who bought into their role, and the chemistry between everyone was family-like. These players helped create the Warriors' style of basketball and helped give Stephen Curry and the other stars proper rest. Having the ability to do that was a huge reason the Warriors won multiple championships.
Obviously, this current second unit hasn't had anywhere near the success. But if healthy, they can be very good for the rest of this season and into the future. They are young, athletic, and versatile. With the absence of Thompson, multiple guys have stepped up and played in a role that wasn't the original plan for them. Most of the guys have done exceptionally well, plus the foundation from the past has been set from the play of Warriors from the past.
When you look at the team now compared to groups Stephen Curry has played with in the past, how would you rank this bench if fully healthy?
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