Warriors’ Steve Kerr announces major lineup change prior to pivotal Game 6 vs. Rockets

The Golden State Warriors will look to close out their first-round 2025 NBA Playoff series against the feisty Houston Rockets in Game 6 on Friday night.

Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green will be aiming to end the series on their home floor, and the Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr decided to make a change to the team's starting rotation to add more of a shooting presence to complement the star trio.

In the process, Kerr demoted one of the group's rising stars and a consistent playoff contributor.

"Warriors' Game 6 starters: Steph Curry, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Gary Payton II, Draymond Green," The San Francisco Standard's Danny Emerman shared via Twitter/X on Friday.

"Steve Kerr said everything was on the table for the starters, and he wasn't lying. Brandin Podziemski to the bench and Hield stays in the opening group."

In a shocking move, Kerr gave Hield the opportunity to start over Podziemski in the massively important potential close-out contest.

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The 22-year-old former No. 19 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft had started each of Golden State's first five games of the series against Houston.

In Game 4 on Monday night, the two-way guard scored 26 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes of action to help his team take a commanding 3-1 series advantage.

Though it may come as a shock, Kerr believes that he can trust Hield, as the 9-year veteran also contributed 15 points of his own in the Warriors' Game 4 victory.

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