It’s not easy to start your NBA career with the defending champion. The two rookies Patrick Baldwin Jr. et Ryan Rollinsdrafted respectively in 30th and 44th position by the Warriors in June, can attest to this.
As “expected”, and especially as the club’s GM, Bob Myers, announced it at the end of Septemberthe two young players hardly play with the A team this season: three games (6.7 minutes) for Patrick Baldwin Jr. and six games (6.3 minutes) for Ryan Rollins.
So, to keep up the pace and continue to progress despite everything, they naturally go through the G-League box, with the Santa Cruz Warriors, like Jordan Poole two years agoMoses Moody last season, and even James Wiseman this seasonsince last week specifically.
In the antechamber of the NBA, the two young talents float easily: 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds for Patrick Baldwin Jr, and 19.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2 assists for Ryan Rollins.
« I come from university where I only played 11 games, and my career here has just started. I only played five preseason games and three regular season games. So the G-League allows me to acclimate to the NBA game and speed, to our team systems and concepts. » recalled “PBJ” this Mondayfollowing compiling 7 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in the heavy loss to the Pelicans, in which Steve Kerr had put his executives to rest. « We know that this is a learning phase for us. That’s why we spend time here. Play, gain experience, progress a little more each day. It is in any case our mentality, to progress and learn every day » added for his part the former rear of Toledo.
The importance of simply playing
For Steve Kerr, the most important thing for his two rookies in this first year of learning is simply to play and keep up the pace. Without that, difficult to weigh in the NBA.
« They need to chain the matches. We saw it [lundi]. The game goes fast here, so mistakes can quickly follow. Our 28 ball losses are proof of this. The only cure is experience. These young people need to chain the matches “said the technician following the match once morest New Orleans.
Within a stable franchise renowned for the development of its youngsters, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins can thus count on a G-League program which ideally prepares them for their future opportunities with the “big boys”, since the systems and game concepts are identical.
« Operation [à Santa Cruz] is very similar to that [des Warriors en NBA]. So for us, the young people, it allows a fluid transition between the two floors. And I think Ryan and I are doing a good job, working hard to capitalize on every opportunity. It will eventually pay off concluded Patrick Baldwin Jr.
