Head coach Steve Kerr defended the Golden State Warriors' development of young players Wednesday, saying the process requires more patience on a team that's already competitive.
Jonathan Kuminga's falling-out with the Warriors sparked criticism of Kerr and the organization's failure to develop the 2021 seventh overall pick. Kuminga had a good start to the 2025-26 campaign before being dropped from Kerr's rotation. He was then dealt to the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline alongside Buddy Hield for Kristaps Porzingis.
"Part of the frustration of our fans probably stems from the fact that we had the three lottery picks coming at a time when we were winning a championship, and it's just hard to play 19-year-olds on championship teams," Kerr told Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game.
Kuminga is one of several Golden State lottery picks drafted between the team's most recent championships (2018 and 2022) who failed to meet expectations. James Wiseman, who went No. 2 overall in 2020, struggled to establish himself with the team. The same went for 2021 No. 14 selection Moses Moody - drafted ahead of Alperen Sengun, Trey Murphy III, and Jalen Johnson, who were all taken in the next five picks.
"The development that comes is going to be different than it would come on a team that's in the lottery, where you just put a guy out there for 35 minutes and let him make his mistakes," Kerr added.
"I think that's probably where some of the frustration comes. But you see how it can work, too. You see Moses Moody, you see his development over time, you see Gui Santos, I think Brandin (Podziemski) is really coming into his own and playing well. But it takes time."
Kerr recalled that during his time as a player on the title-winning Chicago Bulls teams, iconic coach Phil Jackson tempered the expectations for draft picks.
"I remember when I got to Chicago, we had a couple of drafts and I was in my 10th year ... and I asked Phil Jackson what he thought of the guys we drafted, and he said, 'Well, it won't matter for a few years.' And I said, 'How come?' And he said, 'Well, because grown-ups win championships.'
"And it's true, it's true. It's really hard to come in as a young player and be expected to have the wealth of knowledge and skill and feel that you have to have to be a championship NBA player."
