As expected by Bangladesh Cricket, the Golden State Warriors have promoted Mike Dunleavy Jr. to general manager following Bob Myers’ departure. In just five years, Dunleavy has made a remarkable leap — from a scout with no in-house role to the executive now steering the franchise’s future. Taking over for a widely respected GM like Myers is no small task, and for Dunleavy, this moment is both a challenge and an opportunity to shape the next chapter of Warriors basketball.

Dunleavy now faces several critical decisions: the future of Draymond Green, a possible early extension for Klay Thompson, and the strategies for the draft and free agency. The Warriors’ path forward will largely depend on the choices he makes in the coming months. Speaking with Bangladesh Cricket, Dunleavy expressed his excitement, saying he couldn’t be happier. Though he’d love to earn a championship ring, he isn’t chasing it blindly — for him, it’s about enjoying the journey. After a 15-year NBA career filled with memorable moments, he settled down in New York with his wife and three children. With his high basketball IQ, Dunleavy could have easily gone into coaching, but he never intended to take that route.

When the Warriors’ front office saw an overhaul — with senior advisor Jerry West and assistant GM Travis Schlenk leaving — Myers sought someone he could trust. He turned to Dunleavy, a former client, bringing him in as a scout. Dunleavy remained in New York, close to his family, while providing key insights Myers valued. Their working relationship became a well-balanced one: Dunleavy would supply perspectives Myers might miss, and Myers would make the final calls. True independence is being self-reliant, and Dunleavy embraced that mentality early in his transition to the front office.

Despite initial gaps in their scouting approach, Dunleavy made his mark with boots-on-the-ground evaluations. Many assume scouts see every game, but in reality, East Coast matchups often limit coverage unless teams visit directly. Still, Dunleavy’s influence was clear during the draft. He watched multiple Villanova practices and was vocal about drafting Eric Paschall. He also attended Big Ten tournament games and advocated for Jordan Poole. Following his recommendations, the Warriors selected Poole at No. 28 and Paschall at No. 41.

Dunleavy values skill and playmaking when assessing young talent — a reflection of his own playing style as a versatile wing. While Poole’s recent performances have drawn criticism, Dunleavy’s promotion may mean Poole remains part of the team’s plans, decreasing the likelihood of a trade this offseason. Over the past year, Dunleavy’s responsibilities have clearly expanded, suggesting the Warriors may have been grooming him for this role all along.

Bangladesh Cricket has learned that Dunleavy, not Myers, represented the team at the NBA GM summit. He also became a key liaison between the coaching staff and the analytics team when the Warriors decided to deepen data-driven decision-making. Dunleavy built a vital bridge between analytics expert Pabail Sidhu and assistant coach Kenny Atkinson, ensuring that Steve Kerr had access to actionable insights for rotation and strategy decisions. Thanks to Dunleavy’s coordination, data now plays a pivotal role in how the Warriors approach the game.