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What we learned when unfamiliar faces led the Warriors to victory at the California Classic Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
SAN FRANCISCO – When the Warriors opened their NBA Summer League season on Saturday, they did so without familiar names like Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Golden State’s lone 2024 draft pick, second-rounder Quinten Post, was unavailable and neither was Lindy Waters III, acquired last week via trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
So there was plenty of time and space for unfamiliar faces to introduce themselves to the 8,147 spectators who gathered at the Chase Center. The new players did not disappoint by defeating the Miami Heat 105-66 in their first game of the California Classic.
The Warriors dominated every quarter, playing aggressive defense, limiting Miami to 28.9 percent shooting, including 25.8 percent from beyond the arc.
The offense shone positively with Daeqwon Plowden and Ethan Thompson combining 53 points, following the lead of Two-way point guard Reece Beekmanwho signed a two-way contract on Wednesday.
Where were Podziemski and Jackson-Davis, who earned credibility as rookies last season? They were in Las Vegas. Representing the United States national team which will practice this weekend against the United States Olympic team.
Post, the 7-foot-13 center from Boston College, is still recovering from a left leg injury described as “minor.”
Here are three observations from a game that was never close:
The Plowden shooting was, um, fire.
Plowden, 25, impressed, scoring 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 6-of-9 from distance in 23 minutes. He scored 13 points in six minutes of the third quarter, making all five of his shots, three of which were from distance. At one point, he scored 11 consecutive points.
I spoke to Daeqwon after the game. He says he’s fine. The leg issue won’t slow him down. Summer League coach Anthony Vereen says the performance staff will look into it. https://t.co/1Y3yjin60H
—Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) July 7, 2024
Who is Daeqwon Plowden? He’s a 6’5″ forward who grew up in Philadelphia before attending Bowling Green University. He’s eligible for the 2022 NBA draft but went undrafted and has spent the past two years in the G League in the New Orleans Pelicans and Orlando Magic systems.
Another Thompson burns the nets in Chase
While there were several references to Klay Thompson over the public address system and on the video board, it was Ethan Thompson — no relation to the player — who led the Warriors in scoring with 27 points. He came off the bench midway through the first quarter and went to work right away, scoring 10 points in six minutes on 4-of-4 shooting, including 1-of-1 from beyond the arc.
Who is Ethan Thompson? He’s a 6’5″ guard from Oregon State who went undrafted in 2021 and has spent the past three years with the Chicago Bulls’ G League affiliate, as well as professional leagues in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Beekman looks like a veterinarian
Several things attracted the Warriors to Beekman, including his two-way ability and the fact that he played four seasons in the ACC. His experience showed. He was assertive and controlled, but he has elusive 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 3-point range.
Who is Reece Beekman? A 6-foot-11, pass-first but 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 coming out of high school in Milwaukee.