SUMMARY
- Trayce Jackson-Davis has emerged as a major defensive threat on the Warriors' roster.
- Head Coach Steve Kerr gives props to Kevon Looney for guiding the rookies in the right direction.
Trayce Jackson-Davis has asserted himself as a key defensive player on the Golden State Warriors roster. The rookie was the 57th pick during the 2023 NBA Draft and nobody expected him to have such an impact on the Warriors. But a lot of his performances have helped the Dubs secure crucial victories throughout the season. The veterans of the group will play an important role in his upbringing in the league.
Of late, the Warriors have undergone some serious changes. Recently, Stephen Curry injured his ankle which will have him sidelined for a couple of upcoming matchups. Before the injury occurred, Klay Thompson was moved to the bench to add some more depth to the lineup. And players like Jonathan Kuminga have been given bigger roles as well. This has helped the Warriors win more games after a rocky first half of the season.
Steve Kerr gives Trayce Jackson-Davis his flowers
While the Warriors experienced their unfortunate downfall earlier in the season, Steve Kerr was blamed for underutilizing his players. However, the veteran coach turned things around by making a couple of gut-wrenching, yet impactful changes. One of these changes also involved Kevon Looney coming off the bench with their third unit. Kerr claims that running a lineup with Looney mentoring the young guns has impressed him a lot.
Trayce Jackson-Davis on his big-time poster tonight 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/MRUxT92Rm5
— NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2024
He said, “I’m really happy for Trayce. Such a great young guy. I’m also so impressed with Kevon Looney, and how he’s mentored him. And how he’s handled these last few games not playing himself, but continuing to cheer on Trayce and help him and give him advice.” He claimed that Looney’s experience with the core trio of the team has helped him teach Trayce Jackson-Davis more about how things should be worked.
Trayce Jackson-Davis sets himself up for a bright future with the Warriors
Kerr had great appreciation for his players and how they have chosen to handle tough situations. He also said, “It’s really what it’s all about when you see the players cheering for each other and looking after each other. It’s one of the things I love about this group. I really see them constantly doing that, supporting one another. That’s crucial if you want to have a winning team.”
We have seen Kerr’s take on the Warriors lineup happen before. Especially, when Thompson went through two years of rehabilitation before the Warriors won their fourth championship in 2022.
Trayce Jackson-Davis is slowly making a mark on the roster. As you would have already seen, the rookie had an outstanding night against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. His defensive knowledge will be crucial in the years to come. Jackson-Davis had posed a threat against many superstars since his arrival on the scene. He shows great potential and could eventually succeed Draymond Green once the veteran reaches the end of his tenure.