It’s straightforward to overlook that Moses Moody is nineteen years outdated.
That’s as a result of, for many of the season, it’s been straightforward to overlook the rookie.
However the wing from Arkansas couldn't be ignored on Monday night time, as he turned the youngest Warrior within the franchises’ 75-year historical past to attain 30 factors in a sport.
The components for Moody’s career-best sport shouldn't be replicated anytime quickly. The Warriors determined to not carry their high-minute gamers to Denver for a rescheduled sport with the Nuggets, leaving a roster the place eight of the 9 energetic gamers had as soon as performed for the Santa Cruz Warriors, the Dubs’ G-League affiliate.
This was a sport the Warriors had been successfully throwing within the identify of “load administration”, however that supplied a chance for Moody to point out that he’s greater than Golden State’s different lottery decide. He made essentially the most of it. And even on an evening the place the Warriors did, certainly, lose, he and the remainder of the Not Prepared For Primetime (however NBA TV is Tremendous) Gamers supplied Golden State with some much-needed optimism amid a horrendous stretch of dropping.
Moody scored 15 first-quarter factors, 22 first-half factors, and completed the competition with 30 in complete. He wasn’t the very best participant on the ground — reigning and attainable back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokić performed and was marvelous — however he completely seemed like he belonged.
Moody has been overshadowed all season by the Warriors’ high decide within the 2021 NBA Draft, Jonathan Kuminga. And for good cause, too — Kuminga has been an affect participant for the Dubs. Golden State is inarguably leaning on the No. 7 total decide an excessive amount of as attempt to proper the proverbial ship.
Moody doesn’t have the identical sort of elite athleticism or measurement as Kuminga — he was by no means within the dialogue to be the No. 1 total decide in final yr’s draft — however what he has is exceptionally worthwhile to the Dubs: A excessive ground.
I don’t need to shortchange Moody and his potential on this league — he a wing who can rating off the dribble at 19 years outdated, so to say he’s only a function participant on this league can be silly — however on the very least, the ultimate decide of the newest draft lottery goes to be a stable 3-and-D participant.
Go searching at different groups across the NBA who've three high salaries on their staff — the Warriors (with their 4) included: younger, dependable wings who can knock down an outdoor shot and swap on protection are price their weight in gold.
However don’t really pay them that a lot. They’re so worthwhile as a result of they're on rookie contracts, which usually makes them low-cost.
Moody’s protection is stable to the purpose of being unremarkable. He’s lengthy, he strikes laterally effectively, and the pace of the NBA has slowed right down to the purpose the place he could make some issues occur on that finish, particularly in isolation conditions.
The identical scouting report applies to the offensive finish of the courtroom, too. Moody has a clear, environment friendly stroke from past the arc, is an underrated ball-handler, and has a big-moment mentality.
What’s to not like?
If the Warriors had been a staff that was dropping five-straight video games and 9 of 11 all season, we’d be seeing Moody get numerous alternatives just like the one he had Monday night time. He’d seemingly be an All-NBA Rookie Staff choice and somebody NBA hipsters speak about in reverent tones.
For now, he’s our little secret. Although that secret is getting out. (I do know I’m not serving to right here.)
The Warriors are going to need to make seismic choices on their roster within the coming years. This staff is already paying loopy luxurious tax and that’s earlier than Andrew Wiggins asks for a max contract to go together with the large cash Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Inexperienced make.
With Kuminga, Jordan Poole, and now Moody, the Warriors could be prepared to half with the participant from the bridge technology and skip straight to the children amid the inevitable organizational transition.
One may argue with the best way Wiggins has been enjoying as of late, that transfer is already taking place.
There’s no cause to make any kind of dedication now, however Moody is the sort of participant that provides the Warriors severe choices within the years to come back.
Within the meantime, he’ll discover some spots within the last weeks of the season — he’s a part of the rotation now — after which be capable to sit again and study from the very best playoff trio that has graced the sport in a long time — 30, 11, and 23 — this postseason.
“He’s a keeper,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned of Moody. “He’s a man who’s going to be a cornerstone for this staff for a very long time to come back. It’s straightforward to see.”