The 2021 draft class is having a heavy impact on Warriors-Rockets series

Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Alperen Sengun are all getting a share of the bright lights in this first round playoff battle.

We’re watching something akin to basketball poetry unfold in this Warriors-Rockets series. The contrasting development paths of their 2021 draft selections have become the unexpected subplot stealing the show—especially with Jimmy Butler’s injury potentially shifting the spotlight directly onto Jonathan Kuminga.

When the Warriors landed the 7th and 14th picks in 2021, they weren’t in rebuild mode—they were in reload-the-dynasty mode. Three Larry O’Brien trophies already in the case. Steph Curry still cooking. Draymond Green still directing traffic. Klay Thompson working his way back.

Golden State grabbed Jonathan Kuminga at #7 and Moses Moody at #14—two athletes with undeniable physical tools but question marks about their immediate fit in the Warriors’ professor-level motion offense.

Kuminga, a Ferrari engine without a chassis—raw, explosive athleticism that needed refinement. Moody, the more polished 3-and-D prospect with less spectacular athleticism but perhaps a clearer role pathway. Two different players, same impossible task: learn one of the most unique systems in basketball while competing for a championship.

As their fourth year winds down, the returns have been decidedly mixed. Kuminga has shown flashes of brilliance—averaging around 15 points per game this season—but never truly fit into the Warriors’ system. His relationship with Kerr deteriorated to the point where he was collecting DNPs during crucial late-season and early playoff games after Butler’s arrival.

Moody’s journey has been quieter but similarly complex. The Arkansas product has developed into a serviceable rotation piece when healthy, but not the immediate impact player Golden State hoped for when they passed on more NBA-ready prospects. His development has come in fits and starts—showing elite corner three potential and defensive instincts, but until this season he’s struggled to carve out consistent minutes in a veteran-heavy rotation.

Before Butler’s injury, Moody was actually seeing more consistent playing time than Kuminga, logging 28 minutes as a starter in Game 2 with 7 points on 2-of-5 shooting, including a 1-for-4 mark from three. Moody started 34 games with the Dubs this season, cementing himself as a valuable piece to the rotation. Moody has generally been willing to accept his role as a complementary player—spacing the floor, playing solid defense, and not trying to force his natural game into the Warriors’ system.

Meanwhile, down in H-Town, the Rockets were playing an entirely different game. Fresh off trading James Harden and hitting rock bottom with a 17-55 record, expectations couldn’t have been lower. The Rockets weren’t worried about championship windows—they were focused on foundation-building.

When they drafted Jalen Green at #2 and traded for #16 Alperen Sengun, they essentially handed these rookies the keys to the franchise and said: “Go figure it out. We’ll be here when you crash.”

Green and Sengun had the luxury of learning through failure. No one was going to bench them for missing a rotation or taking an ill-advised shot. There was no championship-or-bust pressure, no veterans demanding perfection. The Rockets were essentially a glorified developmental lab where mistakes weren’t just tolerated—they were expected parts of the growth process.

Four years later, we’re seeing the fruits of that approach. Green exploded for 38 points and eight threes in Game 2 against Golden State, completely bouncing back from his playoff debut jitters. Sengun is an All-Star who hit the Dubs up for 17 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists in Game 2 with 2 steals.

Which brings us to the delicious irony unfolding in this playoff series. Jimmy Butler’s pelvis contusion has suddenly thrust Kuminga (and potentially more Moody) into the spotlight. The Warriors, after years of trying to mold these young players into specific roles, now desperately need them to produce.

Kuminga’s 26 minutes in Game 2 produced mixed results—11 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Moody’s 28 minutes yielded 7 points.

Now, with Butler possibly sidelined for Game 3 and beyond, both Kuminga and Moody face the ultimate audition—not just for their Warriors future, but for their playoff legacies. Kuminga especially has tens of millions at stake as restricted free agency looms.

This series has become a fascinating referendum on two opposite player development approaches:

But the real evidence is in the players themselves. Green and Sengun look like cornerstones, comfortable in their skin and clear in their roles. Moody is carving out more of a role as 3-and-D guy, while Kuminga in particular, despite obvious physical gifts, remains an enigma.