SAN FRANCISCO – When the Warriors step onto the Crypto.com Arena court Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, nobody will be happier than rookie center Quinten Post.
The game is set to start slightly more than seven hours after Feb. 6’s noon PT NBA trade deadline. There either will be sighs of relief or sadness throughout the roster of a Warriors front office known to be extremely active and eager to get a deal done. Already, however, Post is relieved because of perhaps the most shocking trade in NBA history with Luka Dončić going to the Lakers and Anthony Davis becoming a Dallas Maverick.
Through 11 NBA games, the most minutes Post has played is the 23 he logged against the Lakers. Post put up eight points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal and was a plus-2 in the Warriors’ 10-point loss. His stats were solid and only put him one step closer to coach Steve Kerr’s starting lineup.
But Davis took Post to school, as well as the rest of his Warriors teammates. Davis was dominant. His final stats read 36 points on 13-of-23 shooting and 10 of 12 from the free-throw line, 13 rebounds and three steals. Somehow, his impact felt even greater.
“That’s pretty nice,” Post said Tuesday after practice, laughing about playing the Lakers without Davis on Thursday. “I’m learning the NBA is a crazy place.”
Monday night’s win against the Orlando Magic was Post’s third consecutive game in the Warriors’ starting lineup. The win also was another first for the second-round draft pick.
Draymond Green started alongside Post in the frontcourt, and he already could tell what a luxury it is playing next to the 13-year NBA veteran and four-time champion. Green made his return from a calf injury that held him out the previous seven games.
