Welcome to our Golden State Tracker! News and views, notes and quotes and rumors and roster moves as they happen with Steph Curry and the Warriors!
OCT. 15 WARRIORS UP ON LAKERS LeBron James filled the media with "what-ifs" and "remember whens" regarding his time as Stephen Curry's teammate during the Paris Olympics. However, on natural territory, in Paradise, Nevada, at the T Mobile Center, reality sets in as the Golden State Warriors hold a 58-51 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Curry leads the Warriors with 11 points and three assists. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis is doing everything to keep the Lakers in the game. Davis scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked a shot in the first half. Without Brandin Podziemski in the lineup due to a nose injury, Curry has to carry the burden of the backcourt. It's likely Curry won't play much longer in the second half.
OCT. 14 WHAT IS NBA DOING WITH NEW RULE? The NBA's latest rule reads like an email from a school teacher desperate for her students to stop using their phones in class. According to Ian Begley of SNY, "The NBA will communicate to teams a revised policy on cell phone use/social media use that prohibits players/coaches from using their phones from tipoff to the end of the game."
Although gambling on other sports is legal for NBA players, the Jontay Porter scandal from last season perhaps inspired Adam Silver to take a further step of precaution by restricting players from paying too much attention to over and under props before a game.
Aside from gambling, the attention on social media, although a bonus for a league that makes decisions that reflect those on X (formerly known as Twitter), could become a nuisance cue for coaches trying to maintain focus in the locker room.
How will coaches and players keep communication during emergencies?
"Teams will designate one point of communication for players and coaches during the 'no cell phone' period," Begley said of his SNY sources.
Although it sounds like a harmless rule, such a strict guideline could ignite league-wide frustration from the players and possibly some coaches.
OCT. 14 MAN IN THE MASK After breaking his nose, Brandin Podziemski will not play on Tuesday vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Steve Kerr, the second-year guard must wait for a mask to suit up for the Golden State Warriors.
Kerr said Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins will play on Tuesday. Podziemski averaged 8.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.3 turnovers in the 2024 preseason. The Warriors refused to trade Podziemski in the offseason as they envision a long relationship with the young guard. Considering the injury, Podziemski should return as soon as he receives a face mask.
OCT 14 CURRY IN A CAST During Friday's preseason win over the Sacramento Kings, Stephen Curry jammed his finger and headed to the locker room for the rest of the night. He did not play in Sunday's win over the Detroit Pistons, although, luckily, that seems to be more cautionary than anything.
Curry was recently spotted wearing a light brace around his pointer finger, although X-rays are reportedly negative, so the injury is hopefully not serious.
Curry's status is officially "day to day," but it would not be surprising if he sits out the final two games of the preseason, which will both be against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
OCT 10 DRAYMOND GREEN PUTTING PHYSICALITY TO USE? For those tired of Draymond Green going on his podcast immediately after a game, they are receiving a break, somewhat. As the Warriors' enforcer has an affinity for proving his status as a physical player, it's fitting he's talking about the NFL once a week.
Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz and Green will air "Why is Draymond Green Talking Football? With Jordan Schultz" every Thursday via Instagram Live at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.
"Those who know me know I've loved football since I was a little kid," Green said in the press release. "To this day, I love watching football even more than I love watching basketball. A very fun part of this show for me is getting to see the inside work of an insider that I don't often get to see as a player. I'm excited for people to hear our diverse perspectives coming together to talk football."
Green is a busy man nowadays. For the Warriors' sake, hopefully, he can keep up with all his obligations.
OCT 5 WARRIORS VS. CLIPPERS PREVIEW The Golden State Warriors are in Hawaii for training camp and on Saturday open with a preseason game against the Clippers.
The afternoon tipoff will likely not feature Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, as he is ramping up. But for the Warriors' side? It could be all hands on deck for the Steph Curry-led squad ... minus one.
Andrew Wiggins has been dealing with an illness in camp and will not play on Saturday.
OCT. 2 BREAKING BARRIERS IN SANTA CRUZ Although the Golden State Warriors claim to be a "Light Years' podcast, their G League affiliate truly demonstrated the example for being ahead of their time. The Santa Cruz Warriors hired Shannon Stabler as the team's first female assistant general manager.
"To be named the first female Assistant General Manager in Santa Cruz Warriors history just means advancement," Stabler said.
Stabler spent the last six seasons busting her tail for the G League Warriors. However, before she became involved in basketball operations, she worked in the franchise's public relations department. Her immediate boss also believes in her ability to help maintain a streamlined, well-organized front office.
"Over the past two seasons, Shannon has been a great addition to our Basketball Operations team. She makes everything run smoothly from an operations, administration, and logistics standpoint," said Santa Cruz Warriors General Manager David Fatoki. "I have full confidence in her abilities to help lead our operation and I'm excited to watch her continue to grow within our organization."
With such a vote of confidence for the go-getter Stabler, don't be surprised if she gets a job in the NBA in the coming years.
AUG 26 BARNES SON OK Matt Barnes, who won a championship in 2017 with the Golden State Warriors, is revealing that his son, Isaiah Barnes, is recovering from emergency surgery after being hit by a car while on foot.
Matt writes on social media: "My guy's had a tough week. Hit by a car while jogging Wednesday ... had a bad stomach ache Friday tried to play through the Mamba Invitational, couldn't sleep all Friday night decided to FINALLY tell his mom & I yesterday when he couldn't move.''
So wait ... the kid tried to play basketball with an appendix that was on the verge of rupturing.
Related: Warriors Add Proven Talent in Mock Trade with Wizards
"I took him to the emergency room & he had to have emergency appendix surgery. Doctor said it was the largest appendix he had ever seen that hadn't ruptured,'' Matt wrote. "Been one tough week man," he wrote on his Instagram Story.