Waters shares a humble perspective on newfound Warriors starting role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Steve Kerr said Lindy Waters III is a good fit for the Warriors’ offense and plans to keep the undrafted veteran guard part of the starting unit, at least for the near future.
Waters, however, sees it differently.
From Waters’ point of view, Kerr could slot almost anyone into the starting two-guard spot left vacant by De’Anthony Melton. season-ending knee injury.
“We have a lot of guys that can fill that role,” Waters told NBC Sports Bay Area afterward Wednesday’s 120-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks at Chase Center. “If you got Steph [Curry], [Draymond Green]Trayce [Jackson-Davis] and [Andrew Wiggins]you can throw any other fifth guy in there and he’ll be good.”
Currently, Kerr is not interested in using anyone else. The job belongs to Waters, and the Warriors coach doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.
“I’m committed to it now,” Kerr said. “He fits in well with that group. I like to bring Buddy [Hield] from the bench Starting Lindy allows us to keep the bench intact and gives us another shooter and defender in the starting lineup.”
Waters, who started the Warriors’ previous two games while the team awaited word on Melton’s condition, wasn’t spectacular in his official debut as a member of Golden State’s starting lineup, but he did enough to warrant keeping him in that role.
Waters had 10 points on 4 of 9 shooting (with a pair of triples), three rebounds with one assist and a steal while finishing plus-16 in 23 minutes against the Hawks.
In his three starts this season, the 27-year-old is shooting 9 of 19 from the floor and is 6 of 12 from behind the arc.
That’s a nice complement to a starting unit having the greatest long range shooter of all timeone of the most dominant defensive players in NBA history and two other role players who played at a very high level.
In addition to an effective offense, Waters also stood out with his defensive effort against the Hawks. Matched up against Trae Young most of the night, Waters limited the three-time NBA All-Star to 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
“Just box him in, pressure him a little bit, make him make tough decisions, tough passes,” Waters said. “He’s a really, really crafty player, really talented.”
Waters quickly made a positive impression not only on Kerr and Dub Nation, but with his teammates as well.
“Lindy is playing well,” Green said. “Just always knows where to be, knows defensive rotations and assignments, knows how to get into space. We have the utmost faith in him. We have no doubt that he will continue to play well for us in that [starting] group.”
Waters, however, was very humble in the Warriors locker room after the game. He repeatedly praised his teammates and didn’t make much of a big deal about being named a starter.
“I was just ready for whatever moment that was,” Waters said. “Rotationally, it might be exciting at the beginning, but at the end of the day, once the ball goes up, everything is normal.”
