PORTLAND, Ore. – In recent weeks, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr knew he was in for two uncomfortable conversations before the regular season. He had 12 players he thought could be in his rotation, but thought 10 would be the maximum on opening night in Portland. He was prepared to inform two players – some combination of Moses Moody, Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II or Kyle Anderson – that they would not get guaranteed minutes.

But the preseason didn’t offer much clarity or separation. Everyone Kerr threw on the floor, including Lindy Waters III, his current 13th man, performed well, the team remained undefeated and no one suffered an injury. When the time came to shorten the rotation on Tuesday, Kerr chose a different path.

“I couldn’t justify (telling someone they were out of the rotation),” Kerr said. “They all played really well.”

So Kerr deployed a 12-man rotation against the Portland Trail Blazers. He started Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis. He brought Buddy Hield, Payton, Looney, Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton and Anderson off the bench in the first quarter. He opened the second quarter with Moody, the 12th man to enter in 13 minutes.

“I’ve never played 12 before,” Kerr said. “But we’re going to do it. It’s not easy for anyone, but we just have to trust that we will find the combination that works from one night to the next.”

The Warriors were given a soft landing spot to test it out. Most people expect the Blazers to finish last in the Western Conference and that’s what it looked like. The Warriors went big and started slowly, falling behind 12-3, but the game quickly changed. The Warriors won the middle quarters by 27 points, led by as many as 37 points and cruised to a runaway season-opening 139-104 victory.

Steve Kerr said he will keep the Warriors in a 12-man rotation. Thought he would cut to 10, but said yesterday he decided it would be 12. He couldn’t ‘justify’ taking anyone out. pic.twitter.com/tl831664pB

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 24, 2024

With an eruption like Wednesday, there are enough minutes to disperse. Curry played just 25, was one rebound away from a triple-double and sat the entire fourth. Green played just 20, shutting down the Blazers with an excellent defensive play to open the second half and then sat out the night as well. All 12 rotation players got at least 14 minutes. Everyone was positive in the plus/minus category.

“We’ll find out (if it’s sustainable),” Curry said. “It’s the identity of this team right now. We can rely on our depth and our ability to be versatile depending on what the game calls for. I’m sure at some point the rotation will be limited a little bit depending on how things play out, but we don’t have to worry about that right now.”

Injuries will inevitably take away Kerr’s wide variety of options, making his choices easier. For example, Green locked horns with Toumani Camara, had a compression sleeve on his left leg after the game and limped out of the locker room. He indicated that everything would be fine, but the bruises and absences piled up during an 82-game marathon. That’s when this depth should benefit the most.

But in the meantime, during games where everyone is at Kerr’s disposal, two challenges will arise: one for the coaches to solve the nightly puzzle and one for the players to accept those choices.

“The guys have to understand that some nights are their nights,” Kerr said. “Some don’t.”

Against better competition in tighter matches, Kerr will have to quickly identify which players and lineup combinations make sense and reshuffle the rotation accordingly.

The starting lineup played 11 minutes against the Blazers and was a cumulative minus-2, one of the few shaky groups. Kerr goes with the bigger look to get Kuminga and Wiggins on the floor together, while Green is also not allowed to start in the middle. But that’s related to spacing issues that can come into the spotlight if it underperforms compared to the various other combinations available.

“I’m looking to see if this group can set the tone defensively,” Kerr said. “It will require us to play offensively, play downhill and play fast.”

Every player has something at stake, but Kuminga’s stake is the easiest to identify. Because he didn’t agree to an extension this week, he’s entering a contract season with his financial future still up in the air. To secure what he desires, legal options must be available. He did start in the opener, but played only 17 minutes. He had a few charges and three fouls in the first half, which limited his playing time.

Kuminga was asked about the fact that his extension was not done in the post-match in the locker room.

“I’m not really worried about it,” he said The Athletics. “I’m just worried about coming out here and performing every other day. I don’t really think about that. The time came and nothing happened. So I don’t worry about it so much anymore. I can just be myself and not think about it. I’ve been through so much. A lot of people don’t know me, don’t know what I’ve been through. There aren’t many things that can break me.”

Moody, who signed a team-friendly extension before the deadline, was the 12th man to see the floor but made sure to get his shots in once he finally entered. Moody went 5-of-11 in 15 minutes and made three of the Warriors’ 20 3s. As promised, the Warriors operated up-tempo and maintained a high volume of 3 (48 attempts).

Hield was the brightest spot of the night. He scored 22 points in just 15 minutes off the bench, making five of his seven threes and rushing for five rebounds. Curry, who chatted with Hield on the bench for much of the fourth quarter, praised him after the game.

“He loves basketball. Likes to hoop. Loves to be in the gym. I have a great personality,” Curry said, before looking across the locker room at Hield. ‘Oh, my God. I’m complimenting you now.”

Steph Curry on Buddy Hield: “Without Klay you had to shoot. We had to shoot anyway.” pic.twitter.com/8p7GbHrIsq

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 24, 2024

The real challenge will come when adversity inevitably strikes. What do players think when their minutes are lower than expected when they lose, when their role diminishes during a losing streak? But the first signs were positive.

“It’s a beautiful locker room,” Curry said. “We have guys who are happy to be here and like to play the way we do. The coach explained the situation we are all in quite well. You have to have a commitment. No agenda, no egos. Well, healthy egos. If you’re out there, know that you need to be out there. But if it’s not your night, you can’t bring the team down with your energy. I haven’t seen any warning signs of that yet, which is great.”

(Photo by Jonathan Kuminga: Stephen Brashear / Imagn Images)