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The shorthanded Golden State Warriors, with rookie Patrick Baldwin Jr. on the bench, toppled the visiting Utah Jazz 112-107 on Wednesday night in the second leg of a back-to-back.
With the Warriors playing without Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins, Utah took an early double-figure lead, but the Warriors slowly chipped away. By halftime, Utah's lead was down to five points at 59-54.
In the fourth quarter, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ty Jerome stepped up, contributing 11 and 17 points respectively, and the Warriors tied the game. Despite trading tough possessions in the final quarter, Golden State's defense, led by Draymond Green's late blocks, helped secure the comeback victory, which was the team's third straight home win. Jordan Poole led the Warriors (18-18) with 26 points.
This article looks at why Baldwin ended up being the 28th pick of June's draft despite showing promise.
Why did Patrick Baldwin’s draft stock fall?
Patrick Baldwin Jr. had a standout performance in the Warriors' game against the Jazz, scoring 11 points in nearly 13 minutes. He impressed with his shooting, hitting 3 of 5 3-point attempts. He is shooting 44.8% from 3-point range on 29 attempts this season.
Baldwin has the potential to be a tough matchup for opponents with his size (6-foot-9, 220 pounds), length and shooting ability. Plus, his ability to stretch the floor could be especially valuable for the Warriors when running their classic low-post split action.
While it remains to be seen whether Baldwin will secure a more solid place in the rotation, his shooting ability is promising and could be key to his future success, especially if he can improve his defense.
There are multiple reasons why his draft stock fell over the past year despite having a lot of potential.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. was expected to be a top draft pick in 2022. He had a skill set that seemed suited for the modern game as a tall forward with a strong shooting ability and scoring versatility.
However, his freshman year in college did not go as planned. He played only 11 games due to a left ankle injury, struggled with poor shooting and scoring numbers, and saw his father, the coach at UW-Milwaukee, get fired at the end of a 10-22 season. As a result, Baldwin's draft stock fell from a potential lottery pick to someone who could slip out of the first round entirely.
Baldwin attributes his struggles to a lack of rhythm and the difficulty of finding his footing on the court.
“When you start and stop the season the way I did, it’s tough to find a rhythm," Baldwin said. "It’s tough to find your footing anywhere. 'Rhythm' is a word I’ve used consistently throughout this process. As long as I have that rhythm, I know I’m a good player. But when I’m on the court, I still have to produce.”
Baldwin, averaging 4.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, has appeared in 10 games this season. However, his playing time has increased lately. He's played in six of the Warriors' last nine games.
Considering his initial NBA performances, Baldwin might have a big future ahead of him.
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