The Warriors didn’t make a splashy offseason overhaul, but Brandon Williams may end up being one of their most useful additions. Beyond drafting Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State’s biggest personnel move was bringing in Williams, and early signs point to a player who can give the bench a different kind of scoring punch.
The first thing that jumped out in training camp was his speed. Steve Kerr went so far as to say he’s the fastest player the Warriors have had in a long time, and that kind of burst matters in Golden State’s new “five-out” setup. The offense is going to need players who can move quickly, shake free on the perimeter and either knock down threes or at least force defenses to react.
Williams fits that idea. His three-point numbers from last season with the Dallas Mavericks were rough - he hit just 23% from deep - but the year before he connected on 40% of his threes, which suggests the previous season may have been the outlier.
Even if the shot from outside isn’t the main story, he’s already shown he can score in reserve minutes. Williams averaged 13 points per game last season, production that stands out for a bench player and helps explain why he could become the kind of steady spark the Warriors have been missing.
That shortage has been a recurring issue for years, especially when Stephen Curry is off the floor. On the latest episode of the Dubs Talk podcast, Kerith Burke and Monte Poole discussed that exact problem and the challenge of finding reliable scoring beyond the starters.
Poole also pointed to Shaun Livingston as another useful comparison. Livingston was never a high-volume three-point shooter, but he gave Golden State efficient offense and could step in when Curry needed a breather. He shot over 50% every season he was with the Warriors.
Williams isn’t built exactly like Livingston, and he isn’t Poole either. But if he can borrow a little from both - a little burst, a little shot creation, a little bench scoring - that would give Golden State a steadier second unit than it has had in a long time.
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The details matter here because the Warriors did more than simply reward Podziemski. The structure of the deal was built to preserve some financial room as they keep sorting through future roster plans, leaving the door open for bigger moves rather than shutting it. That balance, between keeping a homegrown guard and maintaining flexibility, may end up being the most important part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Simmons Gets An Early Shot To Haunt The Warriors
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For Golden State, the matchup adds another layer to a game already being watched closely because Simmons has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2024-25 season. There is intrigue both in how the Kings plan to use him positionally and in how the Warriors will look back on their decision to pass, especially with a player of Simmons' profile now returning to action in a uniform that is not theirs. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Curry Just Put Pressure On The Warriors Front Office
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Currys comments about the state of the roster landed with extra weight because he is no longer speaking like a star simply enjoying the ride. By signing on again, he effectively doubled down on Golden States direction, but his remarks also underscored the pressure on the front office to keep pace with the realities of an aging core and a thin margin for error. However the season starts, the Warriors are carrying more than familiar championship expectations now, and Curry made sure that point is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]