One of the pleasant surprises for the defending champion Golden State Warriors this season has been the play of Alfonzo McKinnie. McKinnie signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Warriors back in September.
When Patrick McCaw held out on his extension, it opened up a roster spot and it's safe to say McKinnie has taken full advantage of it. He didn’t just take the roster spot, he is often the first big off the bench and is thriving in the role, which includes a 19-point, 10-rebound performance in his hometown of Chicago.
Before playing for the Warriors, McKinnie was a part of the Toronto Raptors organization. He didn't play much for the Raptors but he was honing his skills with their G-League affiliate, the Raptors 905. In an article from The Athletic, McKinnie details his time with the 905:
Yeah, I was in the G League a lot. I was a 3-and-D guy. Straight corners. Corner 3s. But I spent a lot of time in the G League with the 905, playing under Coach (Jerry) Stackhouse.
My time with the G League team, it helped me a lot. Because I was transitioning from playing the 4 and 5, guarding 4s and 5s, to coming into the NBA as an NBA wing, having to guard NBA wings.
My time in the G League, Coach Stackhouse (a former productive NBA wing) helped me get the fundamentals down on how to guard wings. Just being that versatile defender, being able to guard multiple positions.
With DeMarcus Cousins most likely to leave after this year, McKinnie is a player who could potentially be a significant part of the Warriors future should he continue this pace.
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