2021 NBA Draft

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The newest members of the Warriors squad have touched down in the Golden State. Welcome Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, the two lottery picks (Nos. 7 and 14) selected by the Warriors in Thursday's NBA Draft!

Take a look at the rookies’ first day as they made themselves at home in Chase Center and with Dub Nation after an exciting Draft Night in Brooklyn, New York.

Dub Nation started showing love to the rooks right away, with fans greeting the newest members of the squad at the airport.

Upon arriving, the rookies made their way to Chase Center for an introductory press conference. Moderated by longtime Warriors radio play-by-play announcer Tim Roye, the new Dubs were joined by Warriors President of Operations Bob Myers to discuss plans for the future and more.

The new Warriors are already feeling at home, with Moses Moody sharing that he received a warm welcome from veteran forward Draymond Green.

“Draymond (Green) texted me saying welcome to the family,” Moody shared with media.

Kuminga shared his own Warrior ties, discussing the impact former Warrior guard and G League Ignite teammate Jarrett Jack had on his development.

“Being around Jarrett Jack means a lot. He used to coach me pretty much every day… He was helping me with the pace of my game,” Kuminga said. “Coming out of high school to the G League, different pace, so he was really like a mentor to me.”

Following the introductory press conference, the rookies received a tour of Chase Center and the Oracle Performance Center.

The new Warriors will get right to work as Summer League is right around the corner, tipping off Aug. 3 (8 p.m. ESPN2) with Dubs heading to Sacramento for the California Classic.

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2021 Draftees First Day in the Bay

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Photo Gallery: Kuminga and Moody Through the NBA Draft

Andy Fahey

After being selected by the Warriors in Thursday’s NBA Draft, Jonathan Kuminga (seventh pick) and Moses Moody (14th pick) boarded cross-country flights this morning to be at Chase Center for their introductory press conference that afternoon. Watch full video of their press conference above.

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Introductory Press Conference for 2021 Draft Selections Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have added two new members to the 2021-22 roster following Thursday’s NBA Draft. Welcome to the squad Jonathan Kuminga (7th overall pick) and Moses Moody (14th)!

Get to know more about the latest additions to Dub Nation and what they could potentially bring to the hardwood.

Jonathan Kuminga1st Round, 7th Overall
Club: G League Ignite
Position: Forward
Home: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 210 lb
Born: October 6, 2002

2020-21 Stats 
PTS: 15.8
REB: 7.2
AST: 2.7
STL: 1.0
BLK: 0.8

With the 7th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Warriors selected Jonathan Kuminga from the G League Ignite.

The 18-year-old combo forward stands at 6-foot-6 and was ranked as the No. 1 high school prospect in the Class of 2021 before reclassifying in 2020 and joining the G League Ignite.

Kuminga’s NBA journey is one-of-a-kind, with the teenager moving from his hometown of the Democratic Republic of Congo at age 13 to pursue his NBA dreams. At tonight’s event, Kuminga was joined by his parents, who he reunited with for the very first time since he made his move to the states nearly six years ago.

“I knew I was capable of making it,” the forward shared. “I'm in a great situation…I feel like it's the right fit for me.”

Kuminga’s pro dreams began in Congo where he repurposed a laundry basket into a basketball hoop and watched NBA highlights of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James at a local internet cafe. In 2016, at just 13 years old, Kuminga moved to the United States to pursue high school basketball in the United States.

Kuminga attended three high schools in three states within a three-year span including stops at Huntington Prep (WV), Our Savior New American School (NY), and The Patrick School (NJ), becoming one of the top prospects in the high school class of 2021.

Though a five-star recruit out of high school, Kuminga opted to reclassify and join the G League Ignite program, located in Walnut Creek. With Ignite, the power forward averaged 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

According to his  NBA.com Draft Profile, "Kuminga has terrific size for a wing, the physicality to play some power forward, and the explosiveness to offer mismatch potential at either spot long-term…Spending time shifting between the forward spots last season, Kuminga put points on the board in a variety of ways in a featured role.”

Kuminga is motivated and believes joining the Warriors will only improve his game, stating, “As long as I grow around Steph Curry, Klay, Draymond Green, I feel like my game is going to go from the bottom to the top in a couple months…Because they're going to always push me, they're always going to put me in the right situation, and I feel like no matter wherever we end up, we're ready to compete and win a championship.”

Moses Moody1st Round, 14th Overall
School: University of Arkansas
Position: Guard
Home: Little Rock, AR
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 211 lb
Born: May 31, 2002

2020-21 Stats 
PTS: 16.8
REB: 5.8
AST: 1.6
STL: 1.0
BLK: 0.7

With their second selection of the night, the Warriors opted for Moses Moody with the 14th overall pick in the draft.

Moody’s impactful play not only helped lead Arkansas to the Elite Eight, but also earned the guard All-SEC First Team and SEC Freshman of the Year honors.

The guard was touted as one of the top-40 prospects in the high school class of 2020 following his senior year at Montverde Academy (FL). During his senior year, Moody gave a moving speech titled "He Beat The Streets" about the plight of a young black men.

As stated on his  NBA.com Draft Profile, “Moody has terrific dimensions for a wing and is a capable athlete…Possessing tremendous length for his size.”

The guard shared his excitement to join the Warriors, stating, “It's been a long process and that's not just to say the last couple months, it's been a life-long process. I've always sacrificed for this moment and for the moments to come because this is not the end, this is the beginning.”

“I'm extremely excited. I like to play obviously on winning teams and to win games and that team can really do it. I'm just glad to be a part of a winning program.”

There is much to look forward to in the Warriors’ 2021-22 NBA season, and the development of the Warriors’ two lottery picks is high on that list.

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Draft Picks Kuminga and Moody Ready to Get to Work with the Warriors

Kuminga and Moody Set for Bay Area Arrival on Friday

After being drafted by the Dubs on Thursday, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody will make the cross-country flight on Friday and take part in an introductory press conference at Chase Center in the afternoon. Stay tuned for full coverage of the Dubs’ draft picks first day on Warriors Ground.

Until then, get to know the two newest Dubs and learn about their journeys to the league in this feature and the social posts below.

Bob Myers Discusses the Warriors’ 2021 Draft Class

Following tonight’s NBA Draft, Warriors President of Basketball Operations Bob Myers answered questions about the team’s decision to draft Jonathan Kuminga (7th pick) and Moses Moody (14th pick). During the press conference, Myers addressed potential trade talk during the draft, the team’s plans for free agency and text messages he received from Drayomd Green before tonight’s picks. Watch it all in the video below.

Shortly after being selected by the Warriors in the NBA Draft, Jonathan Kuminga, the seventh overall selection, and Moses Moody, the 14th pick, sat down for their draft night press conferences. They each fielded questions about landing with the Warriors and what they can bring to their new team. Take a look at some of the more notable quotes from their press conferences.

How will you use your physical capability, your power inside of that Warriors lineup?
Kuminga: I'm in a great situation. I see myself as giving out a lot on defense and at the end of the day if they need me on offense, it's just the way they want me to do it, I'm willing to do it and I feel like I'm capable to do it. I feel like it's the right fit for me.

How ready do you think you are to kind of step in and play maybe like a supplementary role on a winning team like right now?
Kuminga: As long as I grow around Steph Curry, Klay, Draymond Green, I feel like my game is going to go from the bottom to the top in a couple months.

When you look at that progression and you look at the great African players that have come before you, where do you think your ceiling is and which African player do you think inspires you the most?
Kuminga: I would say pretty much all of them. Starting from [Dikembe] Mutombo, going to Giannis who just won a championship, you know. I want to be in that category. I want to be one of those players where coming from Africa and one day do something big in the NBA.

How do you think your training will be affected by playing with Klay, Steph and Draymond? 
Kuminga: I just got to bring it out for every time I get in the game. I just got to be the player they need me to be, listen, learn every single day, work hard and I think everything will go well.

When you woke up this morning on draft morning did you expect to put on the hat of the Golden State? And what can you bring to the Kuminga: Warriors, if fans have never seen you play before?
Honestly, I had no idea where I was going to end up when I woke up this morning, but I'm glad I'm here. And then I'm a shooter, that's what I do and but I can also do some things with the ball in my hands and really showcase a lot.

What do you think about your general fit with the Warriors? 
Kuminga: Yeah, I feel like can I get in and have a good place with the team that they have now and really contribute as soon as possible, but I'm willing to wait and develop as much as they need me to.

With all the hard work that's came up to this moment, how did it feel to have the Commissioner finally call your name?
Kuminga: I got it on inside of my jacket, it said, "This is why I did what I did." This is why I did what I did. It's been a long process and that's not just to say the last couple months, it's been a life-long process. I've always sacrificed for this moment and for the moments to come because this is not the end, this is the beginning.

What do you look to take off of guys like Steph Curry and the vets that are on your team and implement that kind of stuff into your game?
Kuminga: I couldn't even, I don't even know what all them are going to teach me because I know they have so many small little tricks and nuances to get an advantage on the other team, but given how great they are, how great the team is, I mean in that environment I have no choice but to get better.

How do you feel about going to the Warriors where there is a championship-like team already right now? How does that change your mindset and how you look to develop there quickly?
Kuminga: I'm extremely excited. I like to play obviously on winning teams and to win games and that team can really do it. I'm just glad to be a part of a winning program.

Want to see what Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are bringing to the Bay Area? Take a look.

Our friends at Warriors Shop were ready! Just moments after the pick was made, they were already at work creating jerseys for the Warriors’ soon-to-be rooks.

Warriors Select Arkansas Guard Moses Moody

The Warriors added an athletic guard in Moses Moody with the 14th pick in the NBA Draft. As a freshman at Arkansas last season, he led the Razorbacks to the Elite Eight, averaging 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Moody earned All-SEC 1st Team and Freshman of the Year honors. At 6-foot-5 and 211 pounds, "Moody has terrific dimensions for a wing and is a capable athlete," according to his NBA.com profile.

Kuminga: “It’s the Perfect Team for My Career”

There was no shortage of positive reaction to the Warriors’ selection of Jonathan Kuminga with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, but the 18-year old’s sums it all up pretty well.

Some other notable reaction to the pick …

The Warriors used their first of two lottery picks in tonight's NBA Draft on forward Jonathan Kuminga from the G League Ignite.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pound combo forward is a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who moved to the U.S. to pursue basketball in 2016 at the age of 13.

With the G League Ignite this season, Kuminga averaged 15.8 points and 7.2 rebounds, posting four double-doubles in 13 games. Prior to making his pro debut, Kuminga was ranked as the No. 1 high school prospect in the Class of 2021 before reclassifying to 2020 and joining the Ignite.

"He was the most NBAready [on NBA G League Ignite] in terms of strength and physicality. He’ll be the best two-way player in this upcoming draft," Ignite head coach Brian Shaw said to NBA.com. "He can make threes, drive to the basket, finish through contact, has mid-range [ability]
and can defend one through four. Just a special talent."

Just minutes left before the NBA Draft, presented by Oracle, begins, and we are set to go on the clock here at Chase Center and Thrive City.

The Warriors brain trust, including Co-Chairman Joe Lacob to President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Bob Myers, have their seats in the “War Room” ready. Soon they’ll be locked in discussion over which top prospect they may add when the Dubs go on the clock for the seventh overall pick -- their first of two lottery picks.

But they won’t be alone as Dub Nation is set to gather at Thrive City for the Warriors Draft Watch Party. Besides watching the future of the Warriors unfold, there will be live insights from the Dubs’ and NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast team and entertainment, too.

Whether you’re already in Thrive City for today’s Draft Watch Party or getting ready to watch Commissioner Adam Silver announce the first round picks from the comfort of your own home (draft begins at 5 p.m. on ESPN), we figure now would be a good time to share some Warriors draft fun facts.

After over a month of predicting and speculating what the Warriors might do with the seventh and 14th picks of the 2021 NBA Draft, those answers will come later today when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announces the team’s selections on a stage in front of television cameras in Brooklyn.

Several top draft prospects will be in attendance of tonight’s draft, a step toward normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the event to take place in a virtual setting last year.

While there will surely be some celebrations in Brooklyn tonight as NBA dreams are realized, Dub Nation can share in the festivities at the Warriors Draft Watch Party at Thrive City, presented by Oracle. The event begins at 4:30 p.m., allowing fans to watch the event on the 3,108-square-foot videoboard. In addition, Warriors radio broadcaster Tim Roye and former Dubs GM Garry St. Jean will provide live insights on the draft, and Warriors entertainment teams will be on hand for some live performances.

But of course, the highlights of the night will be what the Warriors do at Nos. 7 and 14. Their certainly is no shortage of opinions on that, as we’ve been documenting the ‘expert’ opinions on the mock draft circuit for some time now. Our very own Tim Roye put a unique spin on his mock draft, but no matter which way you look at it, the Dubs have some interesting options in front of them.

Warriors President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Bob Myers said as much earlier this week in his pre-draft press conference.

And if you’re wondering why all the fuss is about the two lottery picks and there’s no interest in the Warriors’ second round pick, that’s because there isn’t one. The Dubs gave that up two years ago in a draft day trade that brought Alen Smailagic to The Bay.

We’ll keep this space up to date with all of the draft day developments relating to the Warriors. Until then, prepare yourself for all the possibilities and check out our Warriors draft preview.

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Draft Day Running Blog

The following draft prospects are among those who external media members are predicting to be selected by the Warriors in the 2021 NBA Draft, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Golden State Warriors or its basketball operations staff.

We are less than 24-hours removed from the 2021 Draft, presented by Oracle. After weeks of mock draft and prospect research, who would you take with the Warriors’ picks at No. 7 and 14?

The mock draft “experts” have had their opinions sway on that very question as of late. We have watched what were clear favorites at seventh overall become a close, three-player race, while a clear favorite at the fourteenth overall pick emerged in our last Mock Draft Roundup.

But now we head into the day during which all questions will be answered when the NBA Draft tips off on Thursday.

As one final chance to prepare you for the summer event, Dub Nation, here’s our updated and final look at what “experts” are saying for the Dubs’ draft selections:

Making a big move heading into Draft Night is the G League Ignite prospect Jonathan Kuminga. In each of our previous Roundups, Davon Mitchell and James Bouknight have been the top names at the No. 7 slot, with Moses Moody making a run for a third contender. But Kuminga has become the overwhelming favorite among the mock draft “experts” as the Warriors’ selection at No. 7 on Thursday.

The 18-year-old forward had himself a solid season after opting to bypass his college career and play in the G League, averaging 15.8 points and 7.2 rebounds.

“Kuminga’s athleticism and scoring upside give him as good of a chance as anyone,” says Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle. “If he’s available at No. 7, the Warriors would have a hard time overlooking him."

And like the No. 7 spot, the No. 14 pick has come away with one clear name tied to it for the Warriors:

Though Mitchell has fallen away from being the Dubs’ pick at No. 7, there remains a few in the media who see the Warriors wanting the guard at No. 14.

CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone is among those who sees the Baylor product as being a strong fit for the Warriors, writing “Mitchell is a defensive menace who won Naismith Defensive Player of the Year last season, adds top-notch playmaking ability and is coming off a career year in which he made 44.7% of his 3s.”

But the evident choice among mock draft “experts” is Oregon’s Chris Duarte, who was vaulted into the discussion in our last Roundup and continues to get more votes in his favor.

“He demonstrated last season at Oregon the ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor, something teams covet at the next level,” wrote Cody Taylor of USA Today’s Rookie Wire. “He led the Pac-12 in steals and proved on a nightly basis he can perform at an elite level on defense.”

Interestingly enough, it seems the majority of members in our panel feel the Warriors will look for an instant contributor who can shoot the 3-ball and be a pest on defense with their second lottery pick.

There you have it, Dub Nation. We have tracked the mock draft “experts” through the pre-draft process, but it all comes down to Thursday when President of Basketball Operations and General Manger Bob Myers officially decides the path forward for the team in the 2021-22 season.

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Mock Draft Roundup: “Experts” Have Clear Favorites for Warriors’ 7th, 14th Picks

The Warriors enter the 2021 NBA Draft, presented by Oracle, as owners of the 7th and 14th picks, with the annual event set for Thursday, July 29 at 5 p.m. This marks the first time in franchise history that the team will have two Lottery picks since the NBA Draft Lottery began in 1985.

With that being said, Warriors President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Bob Myers and his staff are preparing to make decisions that will impact the team’s 2021-22 roster.

Hear Myers address media regarding the top draft prospects and his plans heading into these events, or take a look at some of the highlights down below:

What is your overview on how this pre-draft process has gone, and sitting at 7 and 14 how much you like that range?
“It's better than last year. There was a Combine, which was helpful. We've had a few guys through our facility, which is helpful. Different workout here, as opposed to going to see players in their own gyms. We actually have our coaches run it and just makes it more normal, which is good.

With having 7 and 14, we've been lucky enough to get a lot of players through our facility which I think isn't true for every team so we're fortunate to have that. I think our front office did a good job of getting some really high-level workouts, some competitive ones for this players that are in our range. So that is helpful. So in the way of comparing to last year, it's been better.”

Is the workout process pretty much done and what do the next three days look like for you and the rest of the front office?
“I think it's coming to a decision point. The workouts are done… So the next three days will be what the previous 30 have been which is: Do we want to draft? Do we want to draft two picks? What if you draft a young guy at 7, do you want to draft a young guy at 14? What do we want our team to be? All the things you write about we're trying to figure out, and there's no perfect answer to that. There's no perfect solution. So we try to do the best we can and with what's put in front of us, whether it's take the best trade, take the best picks.”

How would you describe the potential urgency level to try to find veterans via trade?
“We want to win; so do (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green); so does Steve (Kerr)… It's never easy, (predicting the development of rookies) isn't easy -- it isn't always clear. You'd like clarity… But you'd like to find guys that can play a little bit, with what we are limited to do in free agency, which minimums, maybe tax-payer level. Maybe that's a chance to grab some vets, we've done that before, but that was a team everyone wanted to come to. Will veteran players want to come now with Klay coming back? We'll see. So we have to balance all that stuff.”

It has been reported that you're going to use both 7 and 14 and you're not going to trade them. Would you say that's the way it looks right now?
“As of -- what time is it, two o'clock today? Yeah. But here's the problem with that answer. At 2:45 that can change or 3:15… Today, right now, yeah, we're drafting 7 and 14. Don't get mad if we don't in three days because that means something changed."

Are there one or two players more live at that spot that teams are mentioning?
“Well, that's what we're trying to figure out, one for ourselves, and you guys do mock drafts, who is valued, who isn't, what other teams want. You never really know. Our job is to get our part right. I had three conversations this mornings and I said, is this trade on the clock or is this trade you do something now. So you almost preface it with that.

It depends how the draft goes, which then pushes the decision for both teams all the way to the draft, right. Even into the draft… But most of the time, you guys know this, it happens at the draft. Which means it is predicated on who's there."

Do you think there might be any opportunity to move up in the draft?
“I think it's going to be hard. I don't -- and I don't see that specific to the Warriors. I just think that's probably the league. I think it's going to be tough.”

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What They’re Saying: Bob Myers’ Pre-Draft Media Availability – 7/26/21

ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas joins Tim Roye on Warriors Sound to discuss top draft prospects, this year’s challenges and how he evaluates a players’ transition to the NBA. “It took me awhile to wrap my head around how valuable young talent is versus experienced talent,” Bilas emphasized as he chronicles his 19th NBA Draft.

Hear from Bilas and longtime radio voice of the Warriors Tim Roye ahead of  Thursday’s NBA Draft.