Warriors position breakdown: Who should start with Steph Curry in backcourt?

SAN FRANCISCO – Guard is the Warriors’ biggest strength … and arguably their largest question mark. 

Depth abounds in the backcourt. Megastar Steph Curry is aging as gracefully as a bottle of his Gentleman’s Cut bourbon and is still one of the game’s elite players. 

But the shooting guard spot is unsettled. While the team potentially has five different players who could realistically start games at the spot this season, each comes with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Brandin Podziemski is the favorite to start next to Curry when the team opens the regular season in Los Angeles on Tuesday. However, because the team expects its older players to only play 60 to 70 games, the starting lineup will be fluid. Three-guard lineups could also be commonplace, as Moses Moody is more of a guard-forward hybrid. 

“Brandin’s going to play a ton, and he’s a hugely important player for us, but the starting lineup, frankly, is a little trick for us, just given the pieces,” Kerr said recently.

Here is a breakdown of the team’s deepest position. 

Steph Curry, 6-3, 200 pounds, age 37

2024-25 statistics: 70 games, 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 44.8 FG%, 39.7 3FG%

Breakdown: The greatest player in team history and still the unquestioned face of the franchise while entering his 17th season in the Bay Area. … He is coming off another banner season, which culminated in Curry being named to his 11th All-NBA and All-Star team, a game Curry “hosted” in San Francisco. … Curry is still the game’s most devastating shooter and top free-throw maker (93.3%). … He has battled a variety of injuries, but made 70 starts last season and scored at least 30 points in 21 games. … CUrry is arguably the top off-ball player in NBA history, and could lean into that role even more this season as Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski are expected to handle the ball. … Curry should benefit from new “Hi-Five” rule emphasis.

Brandin Podziemski, 6-4, 205 pounds, age 22

2024-25 statistics: 64 games, 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 44.5 FG%, 37.2 3FG%

Breakdown: The Santa Clara alum and Valkyries super-fan is expected to start at shooting guard in his third year in the NBA. … Podziemski underwent left wrist surgery and an operation on his core during the offseason, which explained his shooting struggles in the postseason … He blossomed when shifted to a more off-ball role once Jimmy Butler arrived, averaging 15 points a night post-trade. … Podziemski has flashed an effective mid-range jumper and is effective as a 3-point shooter, but ability to get to the rim needs work. Only 10% of his shots were at the basket. … Kerr and the coaching staff have emphasized Podziemski’s need to control his emotions, not talk to the refs. … He has played point guard extensively during the preseason. 

Moses Moody, 6-5, 215 pounds, age 23

2024-25 statistics: 74 games, 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 43.3 FG%, 37.4 3FG%

Breakdown: He enters his fifth season out of Arkansas as the team’s top point-of-attack defender. Moody credits his time spent wrestling in his youth as a reason for his refined defensive skillset. … Moody underwent surgery on his right thumb after shooting just 35% in 12 postseason games. … Like Podziemski, Moody became locked in as a starter after the Butler trade, thrived as a 3-and-D wing who was lethal from the corners. … He started the final 27 games of the regular season … Kerr hopes Moody will become more of a playmaker when receiving the ball as a screener. … Though quiet, Moody demonstrated leadership qualities when he was named as an advisor with the NBPA this summer. … He is a candidate to start, but will likely play major minutes regardless of whether he is in the top five or is coming off the bench. 

Buddy Hield, 6-4, 215 pounds, age 32

2024-25 statistics: 82 games, 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 41.7 FG%, 37.0 3FG%

Breakdown: Hield is an iron man who started all 82 games in his first season with the Warriors. … The definition of a streaky shooter, the Warriors win more often than not when he is “on.” Team went 12-1 when Hield scored at least 19 points. … Hield saved his best game for the biggest moment, scoring 33 points in Game 7 at Houston to help the Warriors take the series. … The friendly (?) banter between Hield and Butler has continued this preseason. … Hield is not a good defender, but the effort is there.

De’Anthony Melton, 6-2, 201 pounds, age 27

2024-25 statistics: 6 games, 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 40.7 FG%, 37.1 3FG%

Breakdown: Melton is back in the Bay Area after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. … Melton played six games for the Warriors before the injury. He told reporter there is no hard feelings toward the team for trading him to Brooklyn while injured. … Melton is still rehabbing and will miss the start of the regular season. … At his best, Melton is a pesky point-of-attack defender who is an effective off-the-catch shooter at 36.9% from 3-point range. 

Will Richard, 6-3, 210 pounds, age 22 

2024-25 college statistics: 40 games, 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 48.7 FG%, 35.9 3FG%

Breakdown: The precocious second-round pick helped lead Florida to the 2025 NCAA championship, and has looked pro-ready in preseason. … Richard scored 13 points when given a surprise start in Portland on Tuesday. … He runs the floor hard, defends with effort and is a willing shooter. … Richard grew up cheering for the Warriors as a youngster in Georgia, has been described as a “sponge” when learning from his idols Steph Curry and Draymond Green. … Kerr expects Richard to be a contributor in the NBA this season. 

Other options: Steph’s younger brother Seth Curry signed the same day as Jonathan Kuminga. He led the league in 3-point percentage (45.6%) in Charlotte last season, but has not played in preseason. … Pat Spencer appeared in 39 games last season as a sparkplug off the bench and hopes to improve his 22.7% 3-point percentage. Did you know he used to play lacrosse? … LJ Cryer has been a fourth quarter flamethrower in the preseason. The undrafted rookie out of Houston scored 14 points in a wild comeback against Portland.