Quinten Post's Shooting Slump Has Warriors on Edge—Steve Kerr Unveils Comeback Plan Ahead of Lakers Showdown

Golden State rookie center Quinten Post is fast becoming the talking point of the Warriors’ 2025-26 campaign, delivering highlight plays and carving out a bigger role in Steve Kerr’s rotation. Rookie to rotation pillar Drafted 25th overall last June, the 7-footer from the Netherlands began the season as the third big on the depth chart. Over the past month, however, injuries to veteran Al Horford and Jonathan Kuminga’s move to the wing have opened minutes. Post has responded by averaging 17.8 minutes, 8.0 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 46.7 percent from three, tops among NBA centers with 25+ attempts. Signature moments spark Chase Center • January 3 vs. Phoenix: Post’s put-back dunk in traffic ignited a 15-2 fourth-quarter run that sealed a 118-107 win, earning a viral nine-second clip on the team’s social feeds. • December 21 vs. Oklahoma City: He splashed 5-of-7 from deep, the most threes by a Warriors rookie center since Draymond Green’s rookie year, prompting Kerr to praise his “Horford-esque pop threat” post-game. Why Post fits the Kerr system 1. Floor spacing: Golden State ranks third in pace but just 17th in paint touches; Post’s perimeter gravity drags opposing fives outside, un-clogging cutting lanes for Stephen Curry and Moses Moody. 2. Quick decision-making: Boston-College-honed passing chops (1.5 assists) allow split-action hand-offs from the elbow, keeping the motion offense humming. 3. Switchability: At 245 lbs with a 7-2 wingspan, Post holds opponents to 43.2 percent at the rim yet stays serviceable on guards after switches, a must in Kerr’s blitz-and-recover scheme. Impact on Warriors’ playoff trajectory Golden State is 9-5 when Post logs 18-plus minutes and only 6-10 when he plays fewer, a stark on/off swing that has convinced Kerr to cement him alongside Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green for the “foreseeable future,” per NBC Sports Bay Area. What’s next The Warriors embark on a six-game road swing beginning Thursday in Denver. Coaches want Post to rebound at a higher clip (11.4 rebound % vs. league-average 14.0 for centers) and avoid early fouls that limit his closing-time availability. If he checks those boxes, the 22-year-old could realistically challenge for All-Rookie First Team honors and solidify the franchise’s post-Curry core. SEO-key phrases to watch: Quinten Post breakout season, Warriors rookie center highlights, Golden State floor-spacing big man, Quinten Post three-point shooting, Steve Kerr starting lineup changes.