SCORE CARD
SAN FRANCISCO – When the Warriors opened their NBA Summer League season on Saturday, they did so without the presence of household names Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Golden State’s only 2024 draft pick, second-round pick Quinten Post, was unavailable, and neither was Lindy Waters III, acquired in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder last week.
So there was plenty of time and space for unfamiliar faces to introduce themselves to the 8,147 at Chase Center. The new boys did not disappoint, beating the Miami Heat 105-66 in their California Classic opener.
The Warriors dominated every quarter of the game, playing aggressive defense and limiting Miami to 28.9 percent of their shooting, including 25.8 percent from behind the three-point line.
The offense shined with Daeqwon Plowden and Ethan Thompson, who combined for 53 points, following the lead of two-way point guard Reece Beekman, who signed a two-way contract on Wednesday.
Where were Podziemski and Jackson-Davis, who gained credibility as rookies last season? They were in Las Vegas representing the Team USA Select squad that will train against the Team USA Olympic team this weekend.
Post, the 7-foot-1 center from Boston College, is still recovering from a left leg injury described as “minor.”
Here are three observations from a match that never really got exciting:
The Plowden shooting was, uh, fire
The 25-year-old Plowden started at forward and impressed by scoring 26 points on 10 of 14 shooting, including 6 of 9 from distance, in 23 minutes. He scored 13 points in six minutes in the third quarter, making all five of his shots, three of which were from distance. At one point, he scored 11 straight points.
Who is Daeqwon Plowden? A 6-foot-6 wing who grew up in Philadelphia before attending Bowling Green University. He is eligible for the 2022 NBA draft but went undrafted. He spent the past two years in the G League in the systems of the New Orleans Pelicans and Orlando Magic.
Another Thompson scorches the nets at Chase
While there were multiple references to Klay Thompson on the public address system and on the video board, it was the unrelated Ethan Thompson who led the Warriors in scoring with 27 points. He came off the bench midway through the first quarter and immediately went to work, scoring 10 points in six minutes on 4-of-4 shooting, including 1-of-1 from beyond the arc.
Who is Ethan Thompson? A 6-foot-1 guard from Oregon State who went undrafted in 2021 and has spent the past three years in the Chicago Bulls’ G League affiliate, along with professional leagues in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Beekman looks like a veterinarian
Several things attracted the Warriors to Beekman, including his two-way skills and the fact that he played four seasons in the ACC. His experience was evident. He looked assertive and controlled, but has a crafty athleticism – he slid in for a dunk in the first quarter and made it look easy. He finished with 10 points on 3 of 7 shooting, including 2 of 3 from long range.
Who is Reece Beekman? A 6-foot-2 pure point guard—pass-first, but a capable shooter—who was a four-year starter at the University of Virginia and was twice named ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He was a four-star recruit out of high school in Milwaukee.
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