The Warriors have a lot of young talent to groom for the future, with rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody and second-year center James Wiseman all waiting to fulfill their promise in Golden State — as the team competes for an NBA title, no less.
Out of those three players, Moody has received the least amount of media attention, however. With Kuminga’s freak athleticism and Wiseman’s diverse tool bag at 7-feet tall, Moody’s “3-and-D” skillset has been lost in the shuffle to an extent, despite his tremendous potential.
But inside the Warriors organization, Moody is treated as a future king, just like his peers. He said he feels like he’s in a Disney movie, ready to take the crown, according to Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated.
“I feel like Simba in The Lion King,” Moody says. “Just the tradition. This team and this system is very rich, because they’re constantly pouring into us and grooming us almost for the crown.”
Howard Beck/Sports Illustrated
Now that’s pretty awesome. And accurate. As Beck details in his story, the Warriors are attempting to win now and build for the future a no team has done before. Golden State’s championship veterans — Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Andre Iguodala — are indeed taking a keen interest in continuing what they started in the Bay Area, even after they retire from the league years down the road.
Will the youngsters be up to the challenge? So far, the process appears promising. It’s up to them, however, if the Warriors’ “win now and win later” approach has a storybook ending.
UPDATE: Moody got some quality playing time in the Warriors’ loss to the Pelicans (without Curry, Green, or Thompson) Thursday night, notching 10 points and five rebounds.
Bay Area Sports Hub 