3 starting lineup combinations Steve Kerr should consider around Stephen Curry

The Golden State Warriors were big losers this offseason when longtime veteran Klay Thompson signed with the Dallas Mavericks. They have the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry, but they need to find a starting lineup that works.

Golden State signed De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield to help offset the loss of Thompson. They are also hoping that one of their younger players, Brandin Podziemski and/or Jonathan Kuminga, will take a big step forward this season.

Steve Kerr wants the starting lineup to be the best group of players that fit Curry. Of all the players on the roster, the only guaranteed starter is Draymond Green, but everything else is up for grabs. Here are five different lineups the Warriors can use to be as successful as possible for the 2025 season.

5. Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney

The beauty of having a player like Steph Curry on your team is that there are plenty of ways for other players to be effective. This roster would feature four players who played an important role on the 2022 championship team as well as a very young player.

Brandin Podziemski is competing with De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield for that guard spot alongside Curry. An advantage Podziemski has over Melton and Hield as he is 6-foot-5. Klay Thompson was the perfect guard next to Curry because he was tall, great defensively and a great shooter. These are all qualities that Podziemski brings.

As for the rest of the roster, Draymond Green knows Steve Kerr’s system better than anyone and is the primary playmaker. Andrew Wiggins took a considerable step back from his 2022 season, but a bounce-back year is on the line. He is a great scorer, a good shooter and he has become a good defender.

Finally, Kevon Looney is the most experienced player on a roster that doesn’t have many centers. He knows this system very well and would especially be there to be the main rebounder. This training has potential, but it can do better.

4. Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney

This is very similar to the previous range. What’s different is that instead of Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga starts. The Warriors have good reason as the 22-year-old improved from 9.9 points in 2023 to 16.1 points last season.

With the loss of Klay Thompson, the Warriors no longer have a second star. The Western Conference is full of great teams, and if Kuminga doesn’t develop into an All-Star caliber player, they may not even make the Play-In tournament.

Kuminga has become a scorer but his three-point shooting isn’t that good, hitting 32.1 percent last season. With the rest of the featured lineup lacking excellent floor spacers outside of Curry and Podziemski, this is unlikely to be the starting lineup.

This team would have the experience and youth necessary to be very competitive. If Kuminga takes this step and develops a consistent three-point shot, then this could be one of the Warriors’ most dangerous lineups.

3. Steph Curry, Buddy Hield, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green

Late last season, the Warriors started with Draymond Green at center. For the currently constituted roster, this will most likely happen again. We’ve seen the Warriors have success with the small ball lineup and Steph Curry is a big reason why.

Having Buddy Hield in the lineup instead of Brandin Podziemski could be a very shrewd move. Hield has made the most three-pointers since the 2019-20 season, Curry is second. That would give the Warriors the top two three-point scorers.

Even though Andrew Wiggins’ shooting has decreased, his presence on the court opens up more space for Jonathan Kuminga. He is a low post scorer and the more space there is available, the more effective he can be. This also gives Curry the ability to get much further away from the ball and have more space when driving.

If Green can continue shooting at the 39.5 percent rate he did last year, this lineup could be one of the most efficient offenses in the league. Defensively, Green can guard centers, but they will have trouble rebounding the ball.

2. Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green

The Warriors have so many questions regarding their roster, and the biggest is Andrew Wiggins. Assuming Golden State doesn’t believe he can bounce back, they could pick Buddy Hield at three.

This lineup is the same as the previous one, except Brandin Podziemski starts, and Andrew Wiggins does not. What this lineup can guarantee is that there will be very good floor spacing, with four of these players shooting above 38.5 percent from three. If Kuminga can improve from three, the floor spacing will be the best in the league.

The paint is going to be wide open for Curry to take advantage of the driving lanes. Kuminga will have the chance to work one-on-one, and Draymond Green will be able to run the offense with Curry and Hield using all off-ball screens to get open.

A major problem with this range is that it is even smaller than the previous one. Their biggest perimeter player is Podziemski, and Hield isn’t very good defensively. They won’t be able to bounce back at a high level either.

1. Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green

This will most likely be the starting lineup that Steve Kerr begins the season with. He has everything from youth, to court spacing, to defense, to playmaking, to chemistry. The only thing it lacks is size.

The advantage of having Brandin Podziemski and Andrew Wiggins as starting wings on each variation is defense. Both are very good defenders, tall and long for their position. These are the types of players we’ve seen work best next to Steph Curry.

Jonathan Kuminga is a legitimate four and this formation gives him the best possible spacing without having to sacrifice defense. The Warriors are counting on him to take the next step, and playing with the guys he has during his best seasons will continue that development.

Draymond Green has an important task but none that is useful to him. His ability to run the offense is why the Warriors didn’t get rid of him and with this group of players, he can fit in next to Curry.

This is not a guarantee that this team will be a playoff contender let alone a championship contender as it is currently constructed. This training will give them the best chance to compete with the best in the West.