So, I'm hearing over and over here and on podcasts and talk shows all these different theories about why JK has suddenly blossomed this season.
(A) His agent did something. Yah. no.
(B) Realizing that he wasn't a desired asset around the league humbled him and he finally gave into coaching.
I can see how this is an easy reason to single out, especially after most of the offseason discussion was exactly about this-ad-nauseum, but I think it really does JK a bit of disservice. It spins a tale of how JK had no motivation to be humble and listen to coaching his previous 4 years, and how getting spurned by the Nets, who were the only team with cap space, and how the limited sign and trade opportunities were a humbling/humiliating experience, and that was then some sort of "Come to Jesus" moment for his ego, and suddenly he's become this coachable little darling.
It's a simple 2d-cutout of a real life player who's a lot more multi-dimensional than this 2d-story would have you believe.
(C) Butler's mentorship
I do like this theory as it gives both a tangible start time for potential improvements and changes that predates this summer but matches up well with giving JK enough time to learn and start to integrate changes.
Both Butler and JK have credited their mentorship and connection, and we've seen multiple tangible examples this season of active mechanics by which live in-game mentorship happens. Although Butler was never the athlete that JK is, there are many similarities between both their games and the way that they play. JB has also shown a long track record of uplifting younger players he plays with on past teams. JB, like Dray, has shown a remarkable aptitude for breaking down his understanding of the game and communicating that clearly and succinctly.
(D) JK's own improvement
This is his actual answer if you listen to his presser. He is great at not giving much detail in his interviews (unlike Podz who gives way too much detail), so it's hard to piece together a storyline, but it seems like he really did target working on rebounding and passing more this last summer. I think this theory is the most generous to JK and gives him the most agency and credit for his improvement.
(E) Kerr finally figured out how to communicate with JK.
Dray specifically mentions this in the Yahoo interview, and it does seem to hold water. I could very well see how Kerr's communication has improved significantly, especially on what exactly he wants JK to work on and how to improve to get minutes. And we're finally seeing that in action in games.
Summary, I think the true answer is probably a combination of (C), (D), and (E). Probably like 25% (C), 50% (D) and 25% (E).
Thinking about JK's season last year, he struggled enormously with being the primary ball handler, and making decisions as that ball handler within the flow of the offense. But the first half of last season was the very first time he was ever given this heavy load in-game. The year before, CP3 was the facilitator in JK's units. The year before that, JP and Ty were part of the crew, and JK was still ramping up in the Dubs' system. So, he took the half season last year to learn this role as asked of him. And finally when he started excelling in the role that he was handed, he got injured. When he came back, his role had completely changed. And it's also fairly well documented that he struggled with his ankle injury upon his return as well.
But are we to say that JK didn't listen to coaching and do what was asked of him last year? I see the exact opposite. It was injury and the arrival of JB that derailed JK's performance. I remember during his second summer league, the Dubs asked him to work on his facilitating, but when the season rolled around he was never asked to do so. And tbh, he wasn't ready. Last year, he finally started mastering the aggressiveness and speed to become that primary attacking ball handler, but he still struggled with turnovers and decision making, especially passing at speed. But he had shown signs of passing well in the past. So this year, he's finally put it together. That and JB's mentorship are both reasons why his Assts are up this year.
But for rebounding? It's not just mindset and desire, it's also technique and experience. You have to know where to position, how to read the incoming bounce, and when to position/move/jump. In years past we would see a disengaged JK. Part of that was possibly just the speed of the game. Part of that was possibly not understanding the proper positioning, shot reading, and timing techniques. One of the things I'm noticing in his boards this year is the number of boards he is able to corral at peak apex jump height. Anticipating and jumping at the correct time absolutely takes the ability to read the incoming shot and being ready to react to the bounce properly. This may not have been possible for him to master in the limited practice and game minutes he had up until this summer with all the other things that's been put on his plate. This year, it's finally coming together.
Anyways, my long rant is just to say that IMO, postulating either (A) or (B) as a primary cause of JK's improvement really does him a grave disservice and is just lazy speculation. Yes, it's been a long, frustrating road for Dubs' fans, but JK has improved every year, in different facets of his game. And the coaches and mentors helping him improve have also improved in how they communicate. Plenty of players finally have years where the practice, training, and understanding finally come together and they put it all together. We don't pooh-pooh their accomplishments by saying they just didn't get humbled into the right mindset until that year. We shouldn't with JK.
There's probably a little bit of everything but if I had to guess, I'd say mainly: C, D, E.
I just don't buy B being a huge factor. I can't see somebody changing their mindset so drastically over a couple months and suddenly making these types of improvements.
Great post. I would add that last year he was really hitting his groove as a scorer when he suffered the high ankle sprain that sidelined him for much of the season, then Butler is there and his role and fit changed, and he was never fully recovered.
I do think there’s stuff this year that is new — the passing! —- but I think signs were there last year and the way things unfolded kinda undermined that a bit.
Exactly. Last year was also his first major injury as a professional and the long recovery clearly shook his confidence. Took the summer to regain it. Also, thx. :D
Ah nice, I haven't listened yet. That's good news though, if he feels good then that's a long way to his body being right, even if he's still not at his ideal weight
Timpf called this play in his recap: Podz is shooting so well, that the Memphis double teams him, and Podz turns the patented Steph --> Dray blitz into 4v3 tic-tac-toe with TJD. #E1P
For me, Podz belongs on the second unit. AJ said this down below, but with Jimmy, Draymond and Steph in the lineup, Podz' playmaking is a luxury ... Moody's defense and length is more important.
Otherwise, great. I think we're trending this direction anyway.
This has been my thinking. We really need a guy who can guard POA like him, especially for quicker guards. But I also really don’t want to send Moody to the bench because I like having size around Steph, and Moody is a serviceable POA defender himself. Decisions, decisions.
As someone on the West Coast, but with a soon-to-be 9 month old, the 8pm starts are pretty brutal......since I watch the game delayed and usually start a 7pm game AT 8pm so I can fast forward through commercials and knockout a game in 90 minutes.
I was so stoked when there was that successful push to move 730pm games to 7pm....
Waiting until 9pm to start my watch...my body and brain mine as well be on East Coast time.
I can't say I know the current Clips roster that well, but IIRC, their perimeter defense is pretty good, and of course, they've got Zubac to back them up.
If we can beat that group with our offense (on a SEGABABA, no less), I will be pretty happy. And, I'm especially interested if JK can keep the scoring up.
I’m planning to skip back to backs. I gave it a chance this year and I made a great one for the front end of the last b2b and audiences stopped watching it right as the next game started
I don't count any of those guys with the second timeline personally, second round picks don't have the same opportunity cost (unless perhaps they trade three second rounders for the opportunity to take Smailagic lol).
If you knew nothing about the two of them and just saw a summer camp photo shoot of them, you would say "Boy that one guy is going to DUNK HARD on the other one."
Moody went 5-7 from three last night. If we assume that he doesn't improve AT ALL the rest of the year, just shoots the same 5-7 every night, 71.4%, he will have 410 made threes this season. Really looking forward to it.
Well if one player gets 20+ free throws by head bobbing this is what happens. NBA needs to introduce the no-head-bobbing-unless-you-are-a-bobble-head rule real soon otherwise SGAs strategy is going to ruin the watchability as everyone tries it!
I had a "discussion" with an OKC fan on X. He had a video of the 26 FT game where he showed fouls on every play. SGA is actually good. OTOH, when he flies away as if shot from a cannon from slight body only contact, he will always have a flopper reputation.
New thread is up
SPECULATION: JK's mindset shift
So, I'm hearing over and over here and on podcasts and talk shows all these different theories about why JK has suddenly blossomed this season.
(A) His agent did something. Yah. no.
(B) Realizing that he wasn't a desired asset around the league humbled him and he finally gave into coaching.
I can see how this is an easy reason to single out, especially after most of the offseason discussion was exactly about this-ad-nauseum, but I think it really does JK a bit of disservice. It spins a tale of how JK had no motivation to be humble and listen to coaching his previous 4 years, and how getting spurned by the Nets, who were the only team with cap space, and how the limited sign and trade opportunities were a humbling/humiliating experience, and that was then some sort of "Come to Jesus" moment for his ego, and suddenly he's become this coachable little darling.
It's a simple 2d-cutout of a real life player who's a lot more multi-dimensional than this 2d-story would have you believe.
(C) Butler's mentorship
I do like this theory as it gives both a tangible start time for potential improvements and changes that predates this summer but matches up well with giving JK enough time to learn and start to integrate changes.
Both Butler and JK have credited their mentorship and connection, and we've seen multiple tangible examples this season of active mechanics by which live in-game mentorship happens. Although Butler was never the athlete that JK is, there are many similarities between both their games and the way that they play. JB has also shown a long track record of uplifting younger players he plays with on past teams. JB, like Dray, has shown a remarkable aptitude for breaking down his understanding of the game and communicating that clearly and succinctly.
(D) JK's own improvement
This is his actual answer if you listen to his presser. He is great at not giving much detail in his interviews (unlike Podz who gives way too much detail), so it's hard to piece together a storyline, but it seems like he really did target working on rebounding and passing more this last summer. I think this theory is the most generous to JK and gives him the most agency and credit for his improvement.
(E) Kerr finally figured out how to communicate with JK.
Dray specifically mentions this in the Yahoo interview, and it does seem to hold water. I could very well see how Kerr's communication has improved significantly, especially on what exactly he wants JK to work on and how to improve to get minutes. And we're finally seeing that in action in games.
Summary, I think the true answer is probably a combination of (C), (D), and (E). Probably like 25% (C), 50% (D) and 25% (E).
Thinking about JK's season last year, he struggled enormously with being the primary ball handler, and making decisions as that ball handler within the flow of the offense. But the first half of last season was the very first time he was ever given this heavy load in-game. The year before, CP3 was the facilitator in JK's units. The year before that, JP and Ty were part of the crew, and JK was still ramping up in the Dubs' system. So, he took the half season last year to learn this role as asked of him. And finally when he started excelling in the role that he was handed, he got injured. When he came back, his role had completely changed. And it's also fairly well documented that he struggled with his ankle injury upon his return as well.
But are we to say that JK didn't listen to coaching and do what was asked of him last year? I see the exact opposite. It was injury and the arrival of JB that derailed JK's performance. I remember during his second summer league, the Dubs asked him to work on his facilitating, but when the season rolled around he was never asked to do so. And tbh, he wasn't ready. Last year, he finally started mastering the aggressiveness and speed to become that primary attacking ball handler, but he still struggled with turnovers and decision making, especially passing at speed. But he had shown signs of passing well in the past. So this year, he's finally put it together. That and JB's mentorship are both reasons why his Assts are up this year.
But for rebounding? It's not just mindset and desire, it's also technique and experience. You have to know where to position, how to read the incoming bounce, and when to position/move/jump. In years past we would see a disengaged JK. Part of that was possibly just the speed of the game. Part of that was possibly not understanding the proper positioning, shot reading, and timing techniques. One of the things I'm noticing in his boards this year is the number of boards he is able to corral at peak apex jump height. Anticipating and jumping at the correct time absolutely takes the ability to read the incoming shot and being ready to react to the bounce properly. This may not have been possible for him to master in the limited practice and game minutes he had up until this summer with all the other things that's been put on his plate. This year, it's finally coming together.
Anyways, my long rant is just to say that IMO, postulating either (A) or (B) as a primary cause of JK's improvement really does him a grave disservice and is just lazy speculation. Yes, it's been a long, frustrating road for Dubs' fans, but JK has improved every year, in different facets of his game. And the coaches and mentors helping him improve have also improved in how they communicate. Plenty of players finally have years where the practice, training, and understanding finally come together and they put it all together. We don't pooh-pooh their accomplishments by saying they just didn't get humbled into the right mindset until that year. We shouldn't with JK.
There's probably a little bit of everything but if I had to guess, I'd say mainly: C, D, E.
I just don't buy B being a huge factor. I can't see somebody changing their mindset so drastically over a couple months and suddenly making these types of improvements.
My speculation is C with some B and E => D
Great post. I would add that last year he was really hitting his groove as a scorer when he suffered the high ankle sprain that sidelined him for much of the season, then Butler is there and his role and fit changed, and he was never fully recovered.
I do think there’s stuff this year that is new — the passing! —- but I think signs were there last year and the way things unfolded kinda undermined that a bit.
Exactly. Last year was also his first major injury as a professional and the long recovery clearly shook his confidence. Took the summer to regain it. Also, thx. :D
Dray claims on his podcast that he's more ready for the season than he ever has been before:
Delusion? Or has he fixed all his summer weight issues in the handful of games that they've played?
https://youtu.be/TuyO98qvktY?si=K9v7iFa6qmBKVxx6
Probably means ready from a mental and attitude/approach perspective
podcast made it sound like he felt it was physically, he was ready, too.
Ah nice, I haven't listened yet. That's good news though, if he feels good then that's a long way to his body being right, even if he's still not at his ideal weight
He dyed his beard. Didn’t you get that memo?
Timpf called this play in his recap: Podz is shooting so well, that the Memphis double teams him, and Podz turns the patented Steph --> Dray blitz into 4v3 tic-tac-toe with TJD. #E1P
https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=634&GameID=0022500121&Season=2025-26&flag=1&title=Payton%20II%202%27%20Cutting%20Layup%20Shot%20(4%20PTS)%20(Jackson-Davis%201%20AST)
That was such a pretty play
What was that Steph + young bench lineup for a few mins? (May have been in previous game.)
Steph
Will
Post
Gui
__?
They were (or seemed, didn’t check stats) great!
I think Spencer was the 5th.
Going forward, I’d love to see something like this as the starting five…
1. Steph
2. Podz / Moody platoon
3. Jimmy
4. JK
5. Dray / Horford platoon
For me, Podz belongs on the second unit. AJ said this down below, but with Jimmy, Draymond and Steph in the lineup, Podz' playmaking is a luxury ... Moody's defense and length is more important.
Otherwise, great. I think we're trending this direction anyway.
I said this, too. But I also would prefer to not start Dray at C.
If Melton comes back somewhere near what he was last year before he got injured, where does he fit into this for you?
Part of the 6-7-8 team with Moods and Horford?
Starter. IMO.
If he’s on a minutes restriction all year, closing lineup.
This has been my thinking. We really need a guy who can guard POA like him, especially for quicker guards. But I also really don’t want to send Moody to the bench because I like having size around Steph, and Moody is a serviceable POA defender himself. Decisions, decisions.
A good “problem” to have
It’d also have the added benefit of relieving JK of that duty with the smaller, quicker guards. He could stick to wings, which he’s more suited to.
Meanwhile....
r/nba
•
22m ago
AashyLarry
[MIA] Dwyane Wade
Staingate:
After accidentally staining multiple players jerseys with fake hair fibers, Jaylen Brown has announced he will be shaving his head Live tonight at 7pm
Source is Jaylen Brown: https://imgur.com/a/LzN57YE
He was always known for dyeing on the screen.
Ew.
This is why I don't get invited back to the basketball courts.
I'm waiting for Dray's miraculously black beard to fall off or do something similar.
I already saw a grey patch peeking through last night.
The Rise of the Second Timeline
Here are all the games in NBA history in which any team had three players as young or younger than Moses Moody who:
all scored 20+ points
all had a Hollinger Game score above 16.3, and
all shot 57%+ from the field
https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/1sp8Q
Spoiler: This doesn't happen very often.
Shoutout to #5 Mo Speights!
Now they just have to work on consistency.
Injury report for the Warriors; everyone but Melton snd Toohey is available for tonight’s ridiculously late game.
As someone on the West Coast, but with a soon-to-be 9 month old, the 8pm starts are pretty brutal......since I watch the game delayed and usually start a 7pm game AT 8pm so I can fast forward through commercials and knockout a game in 90 minutes.
I was so stoked when there was that successful push to move 730pm games to 7pm....
Waiting until 9pm to start my watch...my body and brain mine as well be on East Coast time.
Feel sorry for you non west coast folks.
10pm start times are hard enough man, why would they do this to us
#FREESETH
Hey, at least this way I can watch the ohtanis&scumpires show without missing much of the dubs.
Guaranteed to go past 10. Happy happy joy joy.
12:30 likely (central) or (sorry east coast folks) …. 1:30. Sheesh.
Quite looking forward to the game tonight.
I can't say I know the current Clips roster that well, but IIRC, their perimeter defense is pretty good, and of course, they've got Zubac to back them up.
If we can beat that group with our offense (on a SEGABABA, no less), I will be pretty happy. And, I'm especially interested if JK can keep the scoring up.
They have a loaded roster and yeah Dunn is a top tier perimeter defender, going to be a big test
...and in the junior sport's news, the NFL has announced a Sting concert at the palace of fine arts 2 days before the superb owl.
2-8 in the last 10 against the Clippers. I'm sure the fellas will get up for tonight's game
Are we load managing @Eric on a back-to-back E1P?!
Bloggers today sawft. Atma Brother ONE never needed load management
I’m planning to skip back to backs. I gave it a chance this year and I made a great one for the front end of the last b2b and audiences stopped watching it right as the next game started
So if they win tonight... E2P? \o/
Gotta keep him fresh for the playoff run
He'll gonna be run ragged with 16 straight E1P's!
Remaining second timeline players all play well in the same game (for the first time ever?) on the same day that Wiseman gets waived for Mac McClung.
TJD and QP are kinda second timeline still? And Lil Richard has joined the group, too.
I don't count any of those guys with the second timeline personally, second round picks don't have the same opportunity cost (unless perhaps they trade three second rounders for the opportunity to take Smailagic lol).
If only Wiseman had done well, we would have 4 of the 5 positions covered.
Wiseman and McClung.
If you knew nothing about the two of them and just saw a summer camp photo shoot of them, you would say "Boy that one guy is going to DUNK HARD on the other one."
You would be right, but you would be wrong.
Both benches getting into it at the end when the brothers were guarding each other was a great moment. Everybody understood the assignment.
I feel like Memphis had a soft double team to cordon off the middle of the quart. Would've preferred if everyone had just cleared the side.
Looking forward to the steph to seth skip pass for the swish.
I even kind of liked Pat missing. Felt about right, the kid played good D.
Moody went 5-7 from three last night. If we assume that he doesn't improve AT ALL the rest of the year, just shoots the same 5-7 every night, 71.4%, he will have 410 made threes this season. Really looking forward to it.
The Warriors are shooting 42% from three as a team so far, second in the NBA (behind the Sixers).
OKC is currently shooting 28% from three, dead last in the league, and yet are 4-0. Not going to be fun for opponents once they regress to the mean.
Conclusion: shooting 3's has no effect on W-L. Science.
Well if one player gets 20+ free throws by head bobbing this is what happens. NBA needs to introduce the no-head-bobbing-unless-you-are-a-bobble-head rule real soon otherwise SGAs strategy is going to ruin the watchability as everyone tries it!
I had a "discussion" with an OKC fan on X. He had a video of the 26 FT game where he showed fouls on every play. SGA is actually good. OTOH, when he flies away as if shot from a cannon from slight body only contact, he will always have a flopper reputation.
Who do you think he is? Aaron Gordon playing against the Warriors?
No...he's missed too many game to get to 400. He's on pace for 395
Puts Curry's 402 three-pointers from 2015-16 in * perspective 😳
*edit: some sort of