In the two games leading up to Saturday’s contest in Cleveland, third-year point guard Pat Spencer averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 assists (against only 1.0 turnover), 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal on .591/.750/1.000 shooting in just 22.5 minutes per night. With the Warriors shorthanded on Saturday, Spencer made his first NBA start and delivered the best performance of his career, writes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Spencer, who is on a two-way contract, was plus-nine in 29 minutes during Golden State’s 99-94 victory, recording a team- and career-high 19 points, a game-high seven assists (vs. one turnover), four rebounds and a steal. He shot 7-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, with 12 of his points coming in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers mounted a comeback bid that fell short.
“We’ve seen the competitiveness,” head coach Steve Kerr said of Spencer. “We’ve seen what a good player he is over the past couple years. But he’s really improved his jump shot. That’s the big thing. Last year, he would turn down a lot of threes, drive in, shoot a lot of floaters. He’s never going to be Steph (Curry), but he’s a threat out there. That’s what it takes. You have to be a threat from the line to pull the defense out. I just think now the shot quality we’re getting with him on the floor is way better than it was the last couple years.
“And the other thing is that his coach realizes that Pat is that motherf—er. That became clear.”
As Anthony Slater of ESPN details, Kerr was referencing a viral moment during Thursday’s game in Philadelphia, when Spencer made a three-pointer to put the Warriors up five with 1:12 remaining and twice yelled “I’m that motherf—er” to the crowd. Golden State trailed by as many as 26 points in that game and ultimately lost in a chaotic and entertaining finish, but Spencer made his mark.
After a Cleveland run trimmed Golden State’s lead to five on Saturday with seven minutes remaining, Spencer hit back-to-back threes and again talked trash to the road crowd. Up three with 4.3 seconds left, Spencer sealed the victory with two free throws, waiving goodbye to Cleveland fans after the first make.
“We’ll take any win we can get right now,” Spencer said, per Poole. “Great energy in the locker room, just competing our butts off tonight. We’re trying to weather the storm until we get healthy. But yeah, we’re fired up.”
Spencer has had an unusual journey to the NBA. The 29-year-old was one of the top college lacrosse players in NCAA history, holding the Division I men’s career mark for most assists during his four-year stay at Loyola University Maryland. He gave up lacrosse to pursue his NBA dream, playing one year of college ball as a graduate student for Northwestern before catching on with the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.
Spencer had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal toward the end of last season so he would be playoff-eligible, Slater notes, then the Warriors brought him back on another two-way contract this fall. The team currently has a full 15-man standard roster and wouldn’t be able to promote Spencer without making other moves.
Still, a promotion later in the season seems likely, particularly if he continues playing the way he has been recently. Two-way players can be active for up to 50 games, and Spencer has been available for all 24 of the Warriors’ contests in 2025/26.
“It’s fun to watch a guy who has had to fight for everything finally get his moment and not only seize it but grab it by the neck,” Kerr said, according to Slater. “This guy is a competitor.”
Waive Seth Curry and Santos. Sign Wiseman, promote Spencer and sign Santos on a two way
The question is whose spot he takes
Nobody right now. Give this a month.
Trade deadline is Feb 5th, give it 2 months.
Let Melton and Spencer fight it out. But usually it will work out by itself due to injuries. Warriors dont have to make ANY decisions any time soon though.
It’s gotta be either Seth or GP2. We don’t need them all!
The Warriors have two months to the trade deadline. Spencer and Richard are making cases for minutes. Melton was a great fit his last stint. How does Seth fit in? Cyr could be be a guy to give a team hot shooting 5-10 minutes a night. It seems Heild would be the odd man out. Package him with Moody, or Podz, and they can land a youngish big plus some picks? Nothing of blockbuster nature is needed. But, let’s see what develops over the next two months.
I don’t think the Warriors want to take on any big contracts. Right now, they only have $27 million on the books after the 27 season. $150 million to play with.
He’ll take Kuminga’s spot eventually.
Half the neckbeards on this site want to cry wolf about Kerr. Meanwhile Kuminga gets his opportunity and absolutely **** the bed.
If people want to cry about Kuminga playing less than Gui or GP2, maybe he should try outplaying them.
Pat Spencer out here seizing his opportunities by the throat…. Kuminga ain’t done nothing in 5 years but grab his ****.
It has always been clear what the Warriors want Kuminga to do; he has only done it occasionally. To be an All-Star, you need to do it consistently. He can have great games, and then have duds.
Now he’s a Warrior expert.
Bilateral patellar tendonitis ……. expert. Look up something for once. He was playing well to start the season. Of course not in your delusional world.
A Kuminga trade is only thing that can help the Warriors. No thanks to your philistinism …..
Every good team has a great “feel good” story that bonds and inspires the team throughout the season and postseason run. Spencer centainly is an amazimg story. Jordan Poole was the story in the last Warriors run. People forget that Poole was basically G League player first 2 yrs along with Mannion and just worked his butt off to make an impact. He was the spark for the team before the Punch ruined it all.
This year, Warriors need to eliminate any negativity asap. They need to make “tough” decision on Kuminga asap. It’s not just about waiting for Jan 15th. They probably need to either come up with phantom injury or just send him home to wait for the trade.
Prioritize Moody and Podz asap and see where their heart and allegience stand. They need to decide asap who’s a keeper and goner.
Weak.
Jordan hit Kerr and Jackson says it helped them win the title that year.
Rudy T was nearly killed on the court. But, he went on to be an All-Star and a Hall of Fame coach.
Poole’s problem was his ego. He thought he was legendary after one good season.
Why would you bench or claim that Kuminga is injured until January 15th? That guarantees no team will trade for him. Why would they? Might as well wave him.
I am confused. Why did they give him a $123m extensiion then? Are Warriors FO and coaches that incompetent?
What are you confused about? Poole called himself a legendary. Everyone for some reason called him the 3rd “Splash Brother”, after one season. Myers is long gone. Dunleavy traded Poole. DC traded Poole to an even worse team.
He thought that cause their fans thought that. It got him paid right . It’s like Knick fans dying for a star. So they jump on KP bandwagon. Teams make mistakes, that simple.
Huh? I guess you didn’t see him place in DC?
I would prioritize playing Spencer, Post and Moody together as much as possible, try to build an offense without Steph Curry…yknow, lame duck Kerr’s actual job?
It’s crazy how you can say “This guy isnt doing the basics of what he is being paid an insane amount of money to do” and all you get are defenders groaning about 4 rings and 2022…but 4 years ago shouldn’t and doesn’t matter if you a HC.
Kerr wants to retire when Curry does because he knows if he leaves early his utter dogsh!t coaching will be truly exposed for what it is – Luke Walton had this team cooking more than Kerr ever has. Whoever replaces Kerr will outshine him immediately. I cannot believe the malpractice Kerr has been allowed to do since instructing Poole to say that to Draymond. Should have been fired then and there.
His name isn’t Steve Kerr anymore, it’s Steve Curse.
Kerr won a title with small ball. He went to more shooters and ballhandlers that year. And it worked. Cause he had Wiggins and Steph playing like MVPs. And Klay still on top of his game.
Seems like he is still trying to duplicate that team.
Well good luck with that.
I was heavily skeptical of Pat Spencer, but he made the adjustment, he leveled up his game and clearly understood his mission: which is to be an offense-minded “classic” PG, like CP3 in a way. Unfortunately Pat’s defense is nothing, so Moody and his 7’1″ wingspan gotta be out there with him at SG, along with bigs and proper wings, not too-small Will Richard at the 3. Richard and Spencer work together too.
Kerr has to stop believing ALL his guards are also stretch forwards, he still is playing Richard at the 3 when he isn’t good there, same with Moody. Richard, Moody, Podz, GP2, Buddy and Seth are all STRICT SG’s. Kerr refuses to believe this, which is leading to winnable games being lost. Kerr is the worst coach in the NBA and utterly infuriating to watch trying to shoehorn as many smalls as possible on court, who proceed to play zero defense and get exploited on size and give up 40+ points every quarter he goes too small. Even playing Gui Santos is better than playing washed up Buddy. Kerr gotta be the biggest tool in the game. Utterly clueless at all times, smh
Spencer is a great Find. I have been saying they need a playmaker/ballhandler. He is just in right place at right time. Those are nice numbers he’s putting up. For a guy to be better at 29 yrs old. Just shows you never stop getting better. There is always something to improve in your game. He’s a good story. I hope he makes it.