How Warriors rookie Post leans on Draymond after earning his respect originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Views of palm trees and sunshine, surrounded by the sound of water lapping into the sand and flowing back to the ocean radiated around the Warriors’ training camp in Hawaii. There were occasional bouts of tropical rain, and a handful of texts from Draymond Green to rookie Quinten Post as well.
‘What is a tower? I need some waters brought to my room,’ one text read. Green also makes sure Post knows after games that the veterans need a towel waiting for them. The 24-year-old from the Netherlands spent five years in college — two at Mississippi State and three at Boston College — where he became an All-ACC Player before. becoming the number 52 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, taken by the Warriors.
Now, the 7-footer happily takes rookie duties in stride while being intimately mentored by 34-year-old Green, who is entering his 13th.th season with the Warriors, absorbing every word on and off the court.
“He’s just a great guy, man,” Post said Tuesday of Green after the Warriors’ practice. “That’s what I’ve learned these past few weeks. I went in and Draymond, obviously he has a reputation, but man, nothing but good things to say about him.
“He talks to me every practice. Not just me, but to all young children. He was really a leader for me and for us. It was great building a relationship with him. He really helped me.”
The Warriors on the morning of this year’s inaugural two-day draft first sent the No. 52 overall pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire shooting guard Lindy Waters III, a move that is already paying dividends with the rookies. game-winning 3-pointer in Golden State’s preseason opener. General manager Mike Dunleavy then regained the draft rights to the No. 52 pick from the Portland Trail Blazers, via the Thunder, to add the tight end.
Post was a bit of a surprise pick by the Warriors. He flew mostly under the radar, as most picks near the end of the second round do. What he brings makes a lot of sense for the Warriors roster.
Finally signed to a two-way contract on Sept. 26, Post is the tallest player on the Warriors’ roster, and perhaps one of their more natural shooters from long range. He made 43.1 percent of his threes his last season for Boston College, and shot 42.6 percent from 3-point range the year before. The big man also grabbed a career-high 8.1 rebounds per game as a graduating senior, and his 1.7 blocks per game that season finished second in the ACC.
After Post and Green shared the court for the first time at Chase Center, the rookie quickly found a new fan. Behind the scenes, Green shared his fondness for the Warriors’ brass, and he spoke highly of After when asked in Hawaii during training camp.
“I really like him,” Green said. “He can shoot the ball. He is super physical. He looks for contact on both ends of the floor, which is not always common in this league today. I like Quinten.
“He’s smart, he talks. He’s one of the guys I’m more impressed with, not just the start of camp but playing with him a few times in the offseason, seeing him in Vegas, I’m impressed with him.”
Nerves caught up with Post in his preseason debut, and he admits it’s an adjustment going from playing 30-plus minutes a game in college to being ready at any spur of the moment trying to prove yourself with a few minutes of playing time. Speed of the game and spacing were the two biggest differences he felt against the LA Clippers as opposed to facing Florida State, Duke or Syracuse.
Mail first entered the game with two minutes remaining in the third quarter of the Warriors’ eventual 91-90 victory. He missed all three of his 3-pointers and finished 1-of-7 shooting for two points and three rebounds in 10 minutes. Although his goal is to crack the rotation as soon as he can, Post is expected to spend a lot of time in the G-League, first soaking up as much wisdom from Green and the Warriors’ veterans as he can.
“Just learning,” Post says of his biggest goal. “What happens, happens. I want to crack the rotation someday. It might take some time, it might not. We will have to see. I just try to take it day by day and learn every day.”
Whether it’s a conversation at Chase Center, or a text when he’s in Santa Cruz, Post knows he can already count on Green for life and basketball advice after quickly earning his respect, even if some rookie reminders are included.
