Warriors’ culture has been a perfect fit thus far for Jonas Jerebko

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OAKLAND – The conversation started with Steve Kerr and Jonas Jerebko praising each other.

Ever since viewing one of Jerebko’s pre-draft workouts in 2009 as the Phoenix Suns general manager, Kerr became impressed with Jerebko’s toughness and outside shooting. Meanwhile, Jerebko has admired Kerr from afar on how he has managed the Warriors’ star talent.

So when Kerr called Jerebko to express interest after Utah waived him last summer, both of them shared those observations. Then Kerr outlined why he considered Jerebko the perfect fit with the Warriors’ star-studded cast.

“He told me, ‘We want to you come here. We need your abilities,’” Jerebko recalled Kerr saying. “‘I’ve seen you play earlier in the league and we want you.’”

Afterwards, Jerebko told his agent not to field calls from any other teams. Beyond the Warriors’ championship culture, Kerr’s salespitch convinced Jerebko to sign with the Warriors on a one-year, $2.1 million deal. And here’s the kicker: Kerr did not talk to Jerebko as if he was a used car salesman.

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“I told him I thought he would play quite a bit, but there could be games he would not even get in,” Kerr recalled. “I’m always honest with players that we are recruiting. I don’t want to mislead anybody.”

And since then, it appears the Warriors and Jerebko have had the best imaginable partnership. The Warriors (20-10) enter Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies (16-12) at Oracle Arena with Jerebko averaging 7.3 points while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from 3-point range. He also has grabbed 5.4 rebounds.

The reason for such consistency? There are many. Jerebko pinpoints it mainly back to Kerr’s system and his All-Star teammates making him feel empowered. That marks a stark contrast to what he said he experienced during his lone season with Utah.

“Coach wants me to take the ball and just play my game,” Jerebko said. “That’s something I’ve been missing with just setting screens and getting to the corner and shooting threes. Here, it’s more about being involved in the plays. It feels good.”

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Sure, that job description might seem easy when playing with four All-Stars in Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. If only it were as as simple as it sounds. Jerebko has played as a reserve in 25 games, and started in five others. He plays mostly at the power forward spot, and occasionally plays at center. Kerr features Jerebko both with a combination of the Warriors’ All-Stars as well as younger players still adjusting to bigger roles.

“When he talks about playing basketball, he’s just referring to our style of play,” Kerr said. “Everybody is touching the ball. There’s a lot of flow and a lot of improvisation. He happens to have a great feel with our post splits and back cuts. Just reading his teammates and making the right play and right pass. He has a great feel for all of that stuff.”

As a result, Jerebko has cracked double figures in 10 games, including four of the past six. He has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in three games. He made a game-winning putback in the Warriors’ second-regular season game against Utah. As Durant summed up about Jerebko, “he shows that toughness every night.”

“He is really tough,” Kerr echoed. “He’s fearless out there. He takes big shots. He’s not afraid to get in the scrum for a loose ball. He sets hard screens. He’s been amazing. We’re very lucky to have him.”

The Warriors are not just lucky to have Jerebko as a bruising defender and screen setter. He has also become an increasingly reliable outside shooter. Jerebko has shot 40 percent from the perimeter through seven games in December, including going 4-of-9 against Milwaukee. Then, the Bucks understandably keyed in on Curry, Thompson and Durant.

“That’s something I’ve been working on,” Jerebko said. “When I got into the league, I wasn’t really a shooter. Every summer, I put in crazy amount of time shooting the ball. It’s paying dividends.”

The reason it is paying dividends: Kerr noticed that Jerebko has kept a strict shooting routine regardless of the amount of 3-point shots he receives. The Warriors also like Jerebko’s ability to fire 3-pointers both against a non-existent defense or against a pesky defender with a fast release.

“That’s an underrated part of Jonas,” Durant admitted. “I didn’t think he could shoot that quickly.” Related Articles 3 Points: What the Warriors want in a center of the future, from one who knows Kerr’s system

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In turn, the Warriors’ All-Stars have often looked for him as a secondary scoring option. When Curry has attracted double teams, he has often looked to see if Jerebko is open from beyond the arc.

“That’s the kind of confidence we have on this team. We have some great players, but even better teammates,” Jerebko said. “I’m new here. But I feel like I’ve been here for a few years. That’s the kind of team camaraderie we have here. The way we move the ball and the way we play basketball is fun to play and even more fun to watch.”

Things did not become immediately seamless for the 31-year-old Jerebko. Through five exhibition games, Jerebko averaged 3.8 points on 31.8 percent shooting and 3.4 rebounds in 14.8 minutes. He then went scoreless in the Warriors’ season-opening win over the Thunder. Then, Kerr admitted feeling worried. Ever since his game-winning putback against Utah, though, Jerebko has become increasingly comfortable.

“I thought I came in good enough shape. But until you play basketball 5-on-5 full speed, you’re not there,” Jerebko said. “I feel like I’m there now. I can go for every rebound I want to go for without getting tired and setting screens and running the floor.”

None of which surprises the Warriors. After all, Kerr had shared in his phone call with Jerebko that he had monitored his whole career in Detroit (2009-2014), Boston (2014-2017) and Utah (2017-18).

“I’ve been in this league for a while. So I don’t feel pressure any more, to be honest,” Jerebko said. “It’s just fun to be around great players and be able to play the way you want to play with the freedom we play with and system that we play with. The coaching staff and organization and everything is top notch. It’s been awesome.”

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