Grading Every Golden State Warriors Player: How Do Steph, Klay, Durant Rate?
Remember when complacency was supposed to be the Golden State Warriors' greatest threat? So much for that.
Health is now the primary concern, and it will stay that way into what the Warriors hope will be another lengthy playoff run. All four All-Stars are dealing with some type of setback, and one might linger through the first round.
There are much greater worries than regular-season accomplishments, then. But with the 2017-18 campaign nearing its completion, it's still a worthwhile exercise to look back on what's transpired in the Bay and assess how all 17 players have measured up.
These letter grades reflect both how the players have compared with their expectations and how they have executed their respective roles. Everything from statistics to the eye test plays a part here, and significant injuries also factor in when applicable.
End of Bench
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17. Chris Boucher, PF/C
Just over one year removed from an ACL tear that ended his college career, Boucher has only a one-minute appearance on his NBA resume. He has played 20 games in the G League, though, where he's posted modest per-game marks of 11.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 22.2 minutes.
The 6'11" big man's ceiling features a shot-blocking and floor-spacing combo, but his game and body both need to mature.
Grade: Incomplete
16. Damian Jones, C
The 30th pick of the 2016 draft should receive a big league role at some point. But for now, he's either buried behind the Dubs' deep frontcourt or bullying G League opponents.
He has just six points, five boards and a block in Golden State this season, but in 45 games with Santa Cruz, he's contributing 15.0 points on 68.0 percent shooting, 8.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 assists on a nightly basis.
Grade: Incomplete
15. Quinn Cook, PG
Cook has already exceeded expectations for the two-way pact he signed in mid-October. Thrust into starting duty of late with Stephen Curry out, Cook has reached double-digit points in six consecutive games, averaging 19.3 points (on .541/.500/.818 shooting), 4.5 assists (against 1.7 turnovers) and 4.5 rebounds over that stretch.
"I sit here and watch and wonder how is Quinn Cook a two-way player?" Draymond Green said, per Bay Area News Group's Mark Medina. "...I'm happy for him and happy he's ready to show the world. I'm happy that he gets rewarded and gets what he deserves."
The question now is whether the Warriors will sign Cook to a standard NBA deal by season's end and have him on the playoff roster. That seems likely given Curry's latest injury, but Cook's play alone was already forcing that discussion.
Grade: A-
14. Omri Casspi, SF/PF
If someone needs to clear out space for Cook, Casspi is probably on the chopping block. It's been a frustrating first season in the Bay Area for the veteran forward, who has battled both injuries and inconsistencies.
He's useful when he shoots (58.0 percent overall, 45.5 percent outside), but he's too often reluctant to launch. He can contribute in other areas, but he doesn't stand out in any of them.
Grade: D+
13. Kevon Looney, PF/C
While not always a rotation player, Looney is still more involved than he was over his first two seasons. He looks less like a player who's had two hip surgeries and more like one capable of providing defensive value on the perimeter and at the rim.
He still often resembles a rebounding specialist, but he's shooting with more confidence as his role expands on this injury-riddled roster.
Grade: C+
12. Jordan Bell, PF/C
It's easy to get carried away when watching Bell flash his blend of athleticism, instincts and defensive versatility. But you have to remember he's a second-round rookie on a loaded roster and has battled multiple injuries.
He hasn't been quite as reliable since returning from his latest ankle sprain, but he should still be well ahead of any realistic hopes.
Grade: B
11. JaVale McGee, C
It's been two months since McGee last sat out a contest, and lately he's been more likely to start than to receive a quick hook. His spotty awareness and defensive limits won't allow him to log major minutes, but he can make a difference in short, energetic bursts.
He isn't the change-of-pace weapon he was last season, but he's trending the right way ahead of the postseason.
Grade: C+
Supporting Cast
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10. Patrick McCaw, SG
It feels like forever ago that McCaw was sprinting through the Sin City summer league on the verge of an apparent breakout. The sophomore swingman has backtracked in almost every area, with his true shooting percentage particularly plummeting (from 54.0 to 47.7).
Losing a month to a wrist fracture hasn't helped, but it's been a down year throughout—the Dubs are 14.0 points better per 100 possessions without him
Grade: D
9. David West, C
Golden State's center spot has proved a revolving door, but its most constant presence has been the team's most senior member. West, who's 37 years young and in his 15th NBA season, is a second-team stabilizer.
He can run the offense through the high post, man the defensive middle and always plays within himself. The two-time All-Star has never had a higher player efficiency rating (21.6, third-highest on the team).
Grade: A-
8. Nick Young, SG
If you were wondering how Golden State's system would change Swaggy P, it hasn't. His 10.8 PER is the third-lowest of his career. His per-36-minute averages in points (15.9) and assists (1.0) are both beneath his career marks (18.1 and 1.5, respectively).
He's still capable of the occasional scoring outburst and can lock down when he wants, but he's as unpredictable as ever.
Grade: D+
7. Zaza Pachulia, C
Any time Pachulia took the floor last season, he did so as a member of the starting lineup. That hasn't been the case this year, as he's opened nine games as a reserve and been passed over entirely in a couple of others.
He's a solid screen-setter and a brawler under the basket, but he's limited as an athlete and as a finisher.
Grade: C
6. Shaun Livingston, PG
Livingston is one of those players you could evaluate blindfolded. His style is so established—and effective—at this stage of his career, there's little mystery in what he'll do or how he'll do it.
"I think Shaun knows who he is," Kevin Durant said, per Bay Area News Group's Melissa Rohlin. "...We all know what he can do, what he does out there."
Livingston isn't quite the shooter he was last season (49.8 percent, down from 54.7), but he has seen some per-36-minute spikes in points (12.4 from 10.4) and assists (4.4 from 3.7). The Warriors are also playing better with him (plus-10.5 net rating) than they did last season (plus-7.6).
Grade: C+
5. Andre Iguodala, SG/SF
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There isn't a harder player to evaluate on the Warriors—or maybe in the NBA—than Andre Iguodala.
His game is built around nuances and subtleties, few of which reach the box score. He can be frustratingly hesitant to shoot—due mostly to an understanding of the surrounding weapons—so a cold spell or two can sabotage his accuracy rates.
And at 34 years old, with 109 career playoff games behind him, he's conscious about pacing himself so that he's as fresh as he can be under the postseason lights.
The result is a stat line that appears centuries removed from his All-Star past. He's never averaged fewer points (6.0) or minutes (25.5), and his three-point conversion rate is at an all-time low (29.4).
"Andre is a guy that you just have to watch; you can't look at the stats with him," Durant said, per Medina. "Sometimes he may score, make jump shots and knock down shots. But when he doesn't, he's still in the game. That's the beauty of Andre."
Iguodala's importance is irrefutable. Among the nine Warriors averaging 15-plus minutes, his plus-10.7 net rating ranks third.
That doesn't mean his numbers should just be ignored. He can muddle the offensive spacing when his shot isn't there, and his defense hasn't always lived up to his standard. But it's hard to think the Dubs are unhappy with his play, especially with his jumper perhaps starting to take postseason form (56.2 percent overall, 44.1 outside since Feb. 1).
Grade: B-
4. Klay Thompson, SG
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No one on the Warriors covers more ground on a nightly basis than Klay Thompson's 2.49 miles. Only 10 players in the Association do.
"He just chases the ball all day long," Steve Kerr said, per Medina. "Klay never gets tired. He guards point guards for us and then he switches onto 4 men. Then he guards the post. Then he runs around the other end like he's Reggie Miller."
Is it fair to say Golden State's system enhances Thompson's impact? Sure, but with the caveat that his presence enhances the system.
On offense, he's a low-maintenance, sniping savant who either lures defenders out of the middle or scorches nets with regularity. Only six players have splashed more triples than Thompson's 206, and none is converting them at a higher clip than his career-best 44.3 percent.
On defense, Thompson's ability to handle backcourt assignments of any size or style helps keep Curry fresh and effectively mitigates what would be one of Golden State's primary weaknesses at that end. And despite the quality of Thompson's matchups, he's shaving 0.8 points off their field-goal percentages.
He could still improve as both a passer and shot-creator, and he's never wowed with his rebounding. Barring a late-season barrage, this will also be the first campaign in which he's failed to raise his scoring average (19.7). That dings him a bit in terms of meeting expectations, but there are few faults with how he's executed his role.
Grade: B+
3. Draymond Green, PF/C
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Up to this point, Draymond Green's NBA career has seemingly moved from one breakout to the next. Two seasons back, he made his All-Star debut. Last year, he captured the Defensive Player of the Year Award after consecutive runner-up finishes.
But this season might snap that trend.
If he leads the Association in anything, it will probably be technical fouls (15, trailing only Dwight Howard's 16). Green is at 2.8 combined steals and blocks per game, down from 3.4. He's assisting a little more (from 7.0 to 7.3) but also seeing an uptick in turnovers (2.4 to 2.8). His field-goal shooting has bumped a bit (41.8 to 45.1), but it's still nowhere close to his 2015-16 rate (49.0).
Granted, counting categories don't always capture the full range of his contributions. But several advanced analytics show similar declines.
He's producing just .138 win shares per 48 minutes, his lowest mark in four seasons. He's down to 26th in real plus-minus (plus-3.49) on the heels of last year's fourth-placed finish (plus-7.14). Opponents are shooting 7.7 percent better at the rim against him (57.9) than they did in 2016-17 (50.2).
"I think I kind of caused a little more confusion on the defensive end last season than I have this year for other teams," Green said in late January, per Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle. "I've been OK, but I don't think I've been great."
Green remains an integral part of Golden State's formula, but it's less reliant on him than it has been. Last season's group fared 10.6 points better per 100 possessions with him than without. This version still sees a drop-off when he sits, but the difference is only 2.3 points per 100 possessions.
Grade: B-
2. Kevin Durant, SF/PF
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It's possible that by going to Golden State and joining forces with Curry, Durant eliminated himself from MVP contention. If that is in fact a sacrifice he made, though, he's willing to live with it.
"Awards don't mean anything, for one. You can still be an MVP-caliber player and not win MVP, in my opinion," Durant told Yahoo Sports' Michael Lee. "I know how good I am. Everybody in this league knows how good I am."
It'd be interesting to see how MVP voters viewed Durant had he not been derailed by injuries his first two seasons with the Dubs. That's not saying he would've leapfrogged likely winner James Harden (he wouldn't have), but it's also strange to think anyone with per-game marks of 26.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.9 blocks is out of the race.
There hasn't been much change in Durant this season from last.
He's shooting worse from the field (52.0 percent from 53.7) but better from three (43.0 from 37.5). He's grabbing fewer rebounds (6.8 from 8.3) but blocking more shots (1.9 from 1.6). He's down a bit in PER (25.9 from 27.6), but he has already topped last year's minutes total with two weeks still to go.
To put it simply, he's an in-prime superstar who is maintaining his peak. He might not be ahead of expectations, but it's hard to think many people thought he would be. He missed 20 games and still finished in the top 10 of MVP votes. He entered this campaign as the second-best player on the planet, and he's on course to exit it the same way.
Grade: A-
1. Stephen Curry, PG
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Injuries are the worst. And they don't make player evaluations particularly easy.
When Stephen Curry has suited up this season, he's been his typically dominant self. He's third in RPM, exactly where he finished last year. He's first in traditional plus/minus, another repeat achievement.
But his 2017-18 regular season will be capped at 51 appearances, due to more ankle trouble and a recent MCL sprain that looks like it will carry over into the playoffs. Those medical misfortunes must be reflected here, especially when his absences are more damaging than any of his teammates'.
"He changes the whole game," Casspi said, per Bleacher Report's Will Gottlieb. "I think he's one of the very few players in our league that can change the whole rhythm of the game when he's out there. ... There's a lot of great players out there, but he's just something special."
The difference of being with or without Curry is a whopping 10.3-point swing per 100 possessions. At the offensive end alone, it's a 14.4-point drop per 100 possessions.
Before (and amid) the injuries, Curry was scoring more, shooting better from all three levels and collecting more rebounds than last season. His 28.1 PER was the second-highest he'd ever posted; the only year above it was his unanimous MVP campaign. If he reached 78 games—as he had in each of the previous five seasons—he would have aced this assessment.
But who carries a perfect score when missing nearly 40 percent of the class? It can't happen, although he comes as close as anyone could.
Grade: B+
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference, NBA.com and ESPN.com.
