Taran Armstrong’s training at the Warriors – Press Enterprise

If you think about it, Taran Armstrong may be perfect for the game style of the Golden State Warriors.

It should not be a surprise that Golden State signed the former Point Guard from Armstrong, the former Point Guard from the California Baptist University from Tasmania, at the beginning of this season. Armstrong already has its value with the G League Santa Cruz Warriors, his statistics there (28.5 minutes, 51 percent from the field, 36.4 from 3-point territory, 5.9 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 11.5 points) better than in the Australia National Basketball League in the two seasons he spent with Cairns, 36.4, 36.4 proven.

He came to Santa Cruz in February for a two-way contract, and now that the Warriors’ G Leaguers were removed in the playoffs, he has joined the Big Club. He can’t play much. If at all, but this is an opportunity to learn, grow and prepare for what ultimately be a bigger role in a club that has its own playing style.

“I was really lucky with this opportunity to play home, and now I’m here and I’m essentially just doing what was said to me,” said Armstrong last week. “I just make sure that I take care of everything I can do today – and then whether it is here or there or whatever, (try it) in the right place.”

A perfect or at least ideal warrior? Steve Kerr recently worked out before his team played the Lakers in La (and beat).

“He is our kind of player,” said Golden State coach. “He can dribble, fit and shoot, a good feeling for the game. It somehow fits every installation combination.

“I think the whole thing is only development and playing time. And we have it next year, so we should give him a lot of playing time in Santa Cruz and help him develop and see if he can take it from there.”

Armstrong reached this point after he had thrown on himself. He played two seasons at the CBU, joining Brother Tre in the Lancers’ program and achieving an average of 10.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists as a lancer. His 6.3 templates in 2021-22 led all first semesters in this category at the national level and led the WAC in assists (5.0) as a second year and at the same time led CBU in the rating (11.3).

“I had a good college experience, (and) play with my brother what was great,” he said. “Coach (Rick) Croy was great for me and gave me the opportunity to be international, came from Australia and was a newcomer and put the ball in my hands early.

“It is something that I am now a little more (for), only in view of the landscape, how College basketball has gone since my return trip. It is now very different. So I am very grateful that I could go into it as a newcomer and have the ball and you know that these opportunities get.”

After the 2022-23 season, he joined the transfer portal. He said that was a “backup option”, but he felt that he had to find a higher level of competition. And while he was thinking about a transfer, he said that he was “the professional environment and competition in Australia the best I would get, so I decided to go home.”

Croy and some of Armstrong’s friends from the CBU were present a few weeks ago when Santa Cruz played the South Bay Lakers in El Segundo. The teams played in a row, with both the Lakers gained the Lakers, but Armstrong-von of the Bank-Hatt 22 points, nine templates and seven rebounds on the first night, 15 points, nine templates and six rebound in the next.

“I think Taran couldn’t have played much better,” said Croy. “He played in such a high clip. At the moment everything makes sense for him. I am very excited for him.”

Croy said Armstrong’s ability as an elite passant -as well as his fearlessness, but he had to develop confidence in his shootout while not only increasing weight and strength, but also the self -confidence of making the pieces he wanted to do. To give him that responsibility as a newcomer helped. So the two years played in the NBL and against experienced players.

“If he shoots the ball with confidence -I think he’s an elite elite passer -by,” said Croy. “So if you have forced yourself to close it, all angles and all visions are opened for him. He can make the boys better and he can influence the game. And the other what he has, is an amazing ability to track the ball from the glass, and then you see that he appears in his back bouncer.”

Nicholas Kerr, the coach of Santa Cruz (and son of Steve Kerr), said that he had no preferred ideas about what was to be expected, as an Armstrong came to the team, after a delay to prepare his visa situation, except the “He would be a high IQ Point Guard that could be difficult,” he said.

In general, players who have received a two-way contract have been in the G-Liga for some time or have earned him through their game in the summer league and their preparation from then on. When Armstrong had his visa and was finally available, Nicholas Kerr said that he used it on Point Guard and let him go “, mainly to evaluate what we had.

“And we quickly noticed that he is a damn another player,” he added. “As soon as we have set it, you could say that he has a big pace in his game and that he is a great passer -by, see the ground good and that it is defensive. That was the first game.”

Santa Cruz plays a similar style to the big club – of course not exactly because the Golden State Warriors Steph Curry have and nobody else doesn’t do anyone – but close enough that Armstrong said it was helpful.

“There is a lot of movement, cut, quick decisions, a system that I think I can really be good.” he said. “I mean, you can see in the G -League games, I think I fit very well. … It doesn’t feel like I was held back or something similar. I was never said, ‘don’t shoot it’ or whatever. I think I play the game in the right way anyway, so it’s not really a problem, my own or something.”

At the moment he will be a viewer with whom Armstrong is called “massive learning option” in a team that believes that it can take a serious run in another championship.

The idea is that his time will come at some point.

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