The Golden State Warriors summer league team shows promise, but it could be extremely strong in one notable absence.
The Warriors, led by newly drafted players Will Richard and Alex Touhay, won two of their first three games.
Their recent 96-84 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies showed Richard’s efficiency. He scored 12 points with 62.5% shooting.
However, the team’s potential remains unexplored without the second-year centre Quinten Post.
The Post has decided to skip this year’s Summer League to participate in a chest tournament hosted by former MVP Derrick Rose.
The unique opportunity allowed him to meet some of the chess greats, including world champion Magnus Carlsen.
This experience provided posts with a different competitive environment compared to his NBA duties. Chess is defined by the Olympic Committee as a sport, but it is a game based on mental ability rather than physical.
“It’s a completely different experience. So, when you play chess against Magnus, there’s clearly no expectations. When you play in NBA court against LeBron and the people we face,” the post explained to NBC.
“Magnus is actually a big warrior fan. He watches all the games. It’s an easy point of conversation and he seemed pretty familiar with basketball. He’s a huge Steph (curry) fan.
The Post’s praise for Carlsen reflects his respect for the great basketball player. He considers the chess grandmaster to hold a similar position in his sport.
“It’s probably the greatest thing ever,” Post said of Carlsen. “In modern times, he’s like curry or LeBron from the chess world.”
Considering the typical objectives of summer leagues, the absence of posts is more pronounced.
Competition usually serves as a platform for younger, unproven players to demonstrate their potential and gain valuable experience.
Several players in the Post draft class are using this opportunity effectively. Kal’el Ware was impressed with the Miami Heat, but Yves Missi showed off his skills with the Pelican.
The Warriors’ decision to remove both post and teammate Tris Jackson Davis from the Summer League roster represents a different developmental approach.
The Post Chest Tournament experience offers unique value, but his presence could significantly improve the team’s summer league performance.