Roster depth has been one of many largest tales for the Golden State Warriors to this point this season, serving to them to a 9-2 file and tie for the lead within the NBA’s Western Convention.
Head coach Steve Kerr has typically opted for a 12-man rotation, with 13 of Golden State’s 14 core gamers averaging no less than 11.9 minutes by way of the primary 11 video games.
The one participant who hasn’t seen rotational minutes this season is Gui Santos, with the Brazilian ahead enjoying simply 20 minutes off the bench in 5 video games. In consequence, the Warriors introduced that they’d assigned Santos to the G League, permitting the 22-year-old to get some much-deserved enjoying time with Santa Cruz.
Santos performed a mean of seven.7 minutes in Golden State’s six preseason video games, averaging 1.8 factors, 1.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists. This comes after he performed an enormous position for Brazil on the Paris Olympics through the offseason.
The Warriors assigned ahead Gui Santos to Santa Cruz: pic.twitter.com/wML2y2W1bQ
– Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) November 14, 2024
That is the fitting transfer by the Warriors, Santos could be very unlikely to achieve the deep rotation. It additionally considerably boosts Santa Cruz’s hopes of a powerful begin to the season, after splitting its first two video games in opposition to the Valley Suns final weekend.
The Warriors earned a dominant 133-118 victory final Friday evening due to 25 factors and 15 rebounds from rookie heart Quinten Submit. The Suns responded 24 hours later, nevertheless, opening a 25-point halftime lead earlier than in the end profitable 133-104.
Rookie guard Reece Beekman has clearly been Santa Cruz’s most constant participant over the 2 video games, averaging 22.5 factors, 6.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in a formidable begin for the participant. 23-year-old who went undrafted in June.
Santos isn’t any stranger to enjoying with Santa Cruz having performed 32 video games within the G League over the previous two seasons. He averaged 8.2 factors, 6.2 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists in 2022-23, earlier than averaging 14.9 factors, 5.9 rebounds and three.1 assists in 15 video games final season.
Santos confirmed spectacular indicators in 23 video games with Golden State throughout his first yr, averaging 3.6 factors and a pair of.1 rebounds whereas capturing 50.9 p.c from the ground and 37 p.c from three-point vary.
Santa Cruz will host the South Bay Lakers at Kaiser Permanente Area on Friday beginning at 7 p.m. PT, earlier than hitting the highway for 3 video games in opposition to the Stockton Kings (one) and Salt Lake Metropolis Stars (two) over the subsequent 10 days.
