© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
A big question heading into preseason has been answered for the Golden State Warriors.
Friday night Steve Kerr announced that the team will go with Glenn Robinson III as their starting small forward when they open up the 2019-20 season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, October 24.
“He’s had a great camp,” Kerr said of Robinson. “I think he’s the best fit there. We haven’t seen Alec (Burks) at all because of the injury. Hopefully before too long Alec will be back out there and getting into the grove and we’ll be able to see how he fits. But we really like the idea of Glenn in that role right now and that’s how we’ll start.”
Robinson III signed a two-year deal with the team back in the beginning of July. The Michigan alum had most recently spent a year with the Detroit Pistons, starting 18 games last year. Robinson III has had a fairly productive preseason so far for the Warriors, shooting 50 percent from the field to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists spread across the first four games.
Friday Kerr also announced that the Warriors will part ways with Alfonzo McKinnie to make room on the roster for Marquese Chriss. That leaves Robinson III, veteran Alec Burks and rookie Jordan Poole as the trio that will have the formidable task of taking over at small forward for Kevin Durant.
Burks has missed the entire preseason with a right-ankle sprain. Jordan Poole has shown flashes of offensive promise during the preseason, but obviously Kerr isn’t comfortable trotting out a rookie as a starter on opening night with the Clippers in town.
