McAdoo showed growth during Finals
In advance of the start of training camp next Tuesday, The Chronicle is analyzing the Warriors player-by-player. This installment focuses on James Michael McAdoo, who still has much to prove.
One of the more overlooked developments of the NBA Finals was the emergence, as subtle as it was, of James Michael McAdoo. After sitting out the entire Western Conference Finals, the reserve forward earned meaningful minutes shoring up Golden State’s frontcourt rotation.
A stacked roster allowed McAdoo to focus on nuances like hedging on picks and switching onto perimeter players. Though he attempted just two shots in a combined 18 minutes against Cleveland, the North Carolina alum made enough strides to warrant a chance at a bigger role this season.
At 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, with a 7-2 wingspan, he is a power forward capable of playing center in smaller lineups. Perhaps his greatest distinction is that he is one of two Warriors players (Draymond Green is the other) who can guard all five positions. Last season, it wasn’t uncommon for McAdoo to defend point guards on pick-and-rolls.
A host of questions, of course, still dog the once-prized recruit who went undrafted two years ago: Will McAdoo become more aggressive after finishing last season with the worst defensive-rebounding percentage among Golden State frontcourt players? Can he extend his shooting range beyond 5 feet? Will McAdoo improve at the foul line, where he made 53.1 percent of his attempts last season?
This is a man who at one time was considered the top college prospect in the nation. Over the past five years (three with the Tar Heels, two with the Warriors), McAdoo has failed to post the numbers that his size, athleticism and pedigree suggest are possible.
In July, as it rounded out the roster after adding Kevin Durant, Golden State was intrigued enough to re-sign McAdoo to a one-year deal. His best shot at building on the Finals is to mop up minutes as Green’s defensive backup. In a crowded frontcourt, McAdoo’s defensive versatility sets him apart.