Through the first seven games of the 2025-26 NBA season, the Golden State Warriors have ridden a rollercoaster of highs and lows, showcasing the timeless brilliance of Stephen Curry, the veteran grit of Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, and the explosive emergence of Jonathan Kuminga following his hard-fought contract extension. At 4-3, the Dubs sit comfortably in the Western Conference playoff picture, but questions linger in the frontcourt—particularly around the integration of new addition Al Horford.
The 39-year-old Horford, signed in the offseason to provide spacing and savvy leadership at center, arrived with tempered expectations. No one anticipated him logging heavy minutes or anchoring the defense full-time, especially with back-to-back restrictions in place. Yet, his slow start has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike, especially as the Warriors grapple with thin big-man depth. In limited action, Horford has posted a second-lowest net rating on the team, earning a middling D+ in Sports Illustrated’s early-season “Report Card” for the roster.
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Head coach Steve Kerr hasn’t minced words about Horford’s fit. “Al’s a pro’s pro—smart, tough, and he knows his role,” Kerr told reporters after a recent win. “But we’re not forcing it. We need energy and versatility up front, and sometimes that means leaning on the young guys.”
Enter Quinten Post, the 7-foot Dutch rookie who, in his second NBA season, is making a compelling argument to supplant Horford as the primary center option. Drafted 52nd overall in 2024, Post’s rookie year was unremarkable—a raw prospect adjusting to the league’s speed and physicality. But this October? He’s transformed into a revelation, blending stretch-big skills with surprising defensive chops.
Post’s Breakout: Stats That Demand Attention
In just 12.7 minutes per game off the bench (and three starts), Post is averaging 4.0 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting a middling 40.7% from the field. The numbers don’t scream superstar, but dig deeper, and the impact jumps off the page. Per recent analytics from BlueManHoop.com’s Jack Simone, Post ranks second on the Warriors in plus-minus through seven games and 10th in minutes played—impressive for a second-year player overshadowed by Horford’s arrival.
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Simone echoed the sentiment in his breakdown, calling Post’s case for more minutes “clear cut.” Even with Horford’s signing poised to erode his role, the 23-year-old has forced his way into the conversation. “Post should be in consideration to get into the rotation even more than he has been,” Simone wrote. “So, if he can improve to the point where Steve Kerr has to find time for him to be on the court, it would be a real luxury.”
The Green-Post Synergy: A Frontcourt Formula
Post’s true value shines brightest alongside Draymond Green, the 35-year-old Defensive Player of the Year candidate who’s defying Father Time. In 68 shared minutes this season, the duo boasts a blistering 34.1 net rating—a mark buoyed by a 122.63 offensive rating and an elite 88.49 defensive rating. It’s small-sample theater, sure, but it underscores Post’s fit in Kerr’s motion offense: a floor-spacer who protects the rim without clogging the lane.
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His coming-out party arrived in a 112-105 thriller against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 29. Logging a season-high 25 minutes, Post erupted for 12 points (4-of-7 from three), eight rebounds, and a team-best +34 plus-minus. It was a clinic in modern big-man play—popping threes off Curry handoffs, boxing out Kawhi Leonard, and switching seamlessly on the perimeter.
Contrast that with his follow-up against the Milwaukee Bucks, where minutes dipped to 10 and production stalled. It’s a reminder of the inconsistency that comes with youth—but also a call to action for Kerr to trust the hot hand.
The Horford Hurdle: Age vs. Ambition
Horford’s tenure in Golden State hasn’t been a disaster, just… underwhelming. The 2024 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics has suited up for just four of seven games, averaging 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.2 minutes. His retirement whispers earlier this summer made his Warriors signing a coup—a veteran mentor for a contending squad eyeing another ring. But as Simone noted, “In a year where that was projected to be the clear-cut case, [Post has] still managed to prove that he deserves a share of the playing time at the center position.”
Horford himself addressed the dynamic post-practice. “Steph [Curry] texted me before free agency—said Golden State was where I could chase one more,” Horford revealed in a recent interview. “I’m here to win, not chase minutes. But if the kid’s earning it, that’s basketball.”
Kerr’s opening-night gambit—starting Kuminga and Green together—has paid dividends, with the small-ball lineup outscoring opponents by 12.4 points per 100 possessions. It’s forced the bigs into a committee: Post, Horford, and Trayce Jackson-Davis combining for a scant 42.2 minutes per night. Jackson-Davis has been a healthy scratch multiple times, while Horford rests strategically. Post? He’s the constant, starting three games and appearing in all seven.
Sports Illustrated’s Report Card crystallized the divide: Post’s A+ glows for his net rating and Clippers dominance; Horford’s D+ reflects inefficiency; Jackson-Davis sits ungraded, a ghost in the machine.
Replies poured in: excitement for Curry’s 28.1 PPG clip, concern over Butler’s load management, and a growing chorus for “Post szn.”
Why Post Matters: Youth Injection for an Aging Core
At its heart, Post’s surge is a boon for a Warriors team with the league’s third-oldest roster (average age: 28.4). Curry (37), Butler (36), and Green (35) remain elite, but their mileage demands relief. Post’s 37.5% three-point shooting (on 3.2 attempts per game) stretches defenses, creating driving lanes for Kuminga and Curry’s off-ball magic. Defensively, his 1.2 blocks per 36 minutes hint at rim deterrence without the foul trouble that plagued his rookie year.
As the schedule toughens—up next: back-to-backs against Denver and Phoenix—the Warriors must solidify their late-game hierarchy. Can they paint-protect without a traditional seven-footer? Post’s +8.2 net rating suggests yes, at least situationally.
“Post looks ready to play more consistent minutes for the Warriors this season,” Simone concluded. For a franchise that’s thrived on bold experimentation—from the Death Lineup to small-ball revolutions—elevating Quinten Post feels like the next evolution. Horford’s wisdom endures, but the future wears No. 00.
Watch out, Al—the kids are closing in. And for the NFL? Well, if Post keeps this up, he might just inspire a crossover league of stretch-fours moonlighting as tight ends. But that’s a story for another day.