Mike Dunleavy celebrates Warriors' offseason additions after no ‘splashy' moves

Mike Dunleavy Mike Dunleavy celebrates Warriors' offseason additions after no ‘splashy' moves Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy focused on what Golden State needed -- not what other wanted -- in his offseason acquisitions, and so far, it's working. By Angelina Martin • Published November 9, 2026 • Updated on November 9, 2026 at 9:15 pm After an 0-3 start to the 2026-27 NBA season, the Warriors finally are clicking and have won seven straight games entering their matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night at Chase Center. A huge part of Golden State's early success has been its bench depth , with players both brought in and brought back by Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy this summer helping to lead the second-unit charge. After what some considered a lackluster offseason, expectations around the Warriors this season are starting to change -- but Dunleavy isn't surprised. Watch NBC Bay Area News free wherever you are WATCH HERE "Look, people were looking for a more splashy move or moves or whatever it was, but we focused in on what we thought could help the group that we currently have," Dunleavy told NBC Sports Bay Area's Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Festus Ezeli on "Warriors Pregame Live" before Monday's game. "And part of the tricky thing was knowing Moses [Moody] and Jimmy [Butler] weren't going to be available to start the season. "So how do we hold down the fort without those guys, and bringing guys back like Al [Horford] and [De'Anthony Melton] and then adding guys like [Charles] Bassey, adding guys like Brandon Williams, you mentioned [Georges] Niang. All these guys have chipped in, they've done their part, and that's how you have a good successful team. That's how you rattle off seven in a row and, I mean, look, we're an eighth of the way into the season, so we've got a long way to go, but, you know, so far, so good." The Warriors failed in their pursuit of NBA superstar LeBron James this summer -- just one of many free-agency airballs for the franchise in recent years as they try to maximize Steph Curry's remaining seasons. While Dub Nation and pundits around the league alike longed for a slam-dunk signing, Dunleavy quietly assembled a roster that, so far, has done plenty to silence any naysayers. While Curry's superpowers have led the way for Golden State -- the 38-year-old is averaging 31.3 points per game entering Monday night -- the bench is doing its part, too, by keeping the Warriors in games when Steph is on the bench. Williams (11.1), Melton (9.4), Niang (8.2) and Bassey (7.1) round out Golden State's top seven scorers per game behind Curry, rookie revelation Yaxel Lendeborg (21.2) and Brandin Podziemski (15.8). Given the under-the-radar moves the Warriors made this offseason and the absences of Butler and Moody, the team needed its No. 11 overall draft pick to step up right away, too. Golden State Warriors Steph Curry 10 hours ago Warriors' perfect homestand nourishes their souls before big test on the road NBA 11 hours ago NBA Highlights: Warriors 138, Pelicans 87 And he certainly has, undeniably asserting himself as the Warriors' most exciting addition in a season with plenty of new faces on the roster. "With these rookies, everybody runs their own race. Some of these guys are 19 years old. In five years they're going to be really, really good. But for us and what we need right now, Yaxel's the guy," Dunleavy said. "He's 24, but he's also [6-foot-9], 240. He can shoot, pass, dribble, defend. I don't think those things are going to change, and for us it really works. "We were fortunate to get him at 11, and we trust him in the spotlight here just because of the injuries we've had with Jimmy, with Moses, obviously with [Kristaps Porziņģis] not being here, he's taken on a bigger role, and he's passing with flying colors." After the Warriors' 7-3 start, Dunleavy sees a team that's connected and ready to prove people who doubted the team's offseason very, very wrong. "I think just more than anything we're connected, right?" Dunleavy said. "Steph's been amazing. Yaxel's stepped up. Podz has been sneaky, under the radar … I just think overall, like everybody's kind of done their part. Give Steve [Kerr] credit -- the group's connected, they're together. You know, you start off 0-3, you can start splintering, but these guys have hung in there and we've done a nice job protecting home court here." The connected Warriors are going for an undefeated homestand Monday night against the Pelicans, and if they can do that, they'll take an eight-game winning streak on the road to face the Rockets in Houston on Wednesday night. Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast This article tagged under: Mike Dunleavy