The Golden State Warriors have held steady despite missing Stephen Curry for five straight games, and the unlikely catalyst behind their turnaround has been two-way guard Pat Spencer.
With Curry nearing his return from a quad injury, head coach Steve Kerr finally addressed what Spencer’s role will look like moving forward, and the answer signals a major shift in his rotation.
Steve Kerr Has a Major Update About Pat Spencer
Speaking on Willard & Dibs on 95.7 The Game, Kerr made it clear that Spencer has earned a permanent role even when Curry returns.
“I can tell you that I’m definitely going to play him with Steph some and we’ll see. Some of it will depend on matchups… But the way Pat is playing, the way he’s impacting winning, the way he’s impacting the competitive spirit of the team. I have to keep playing him. We’re winning, and he’s a huge part of that.”
Kerr’s praise comes after Spencer stepped into the starting point-guard role for two consecutive wins. In the last four games after Curry’s injury, Spencer has averaged 16 points, four rebounds, and 5.8 assists in 25.5 minutes, including a standout performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he posted 19 points and seven assists.
But the Warriors face a looming issue: Spencer is on a two-way contract, and those players are limited to 50 NBA games. He has already used 17 of those appearances, creating a roster dilemma.
Golden State’s 15 standard roster spots are currently full, meaning any conversion of Spencer’s contract would require a corresponding move. Spencer re-signed with Golden State in the offseason despite having offers from other teams that could have guaranteed him a clearer path to a full roster spot.
“Ultimately, I just have a belief in the group that we had at the end of last year,” Spencer said. “I truly enjoy playing for Steve and competing with him.”
Through the season, Spencer is averaging 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on 46.6% shooting, giving the injury-stricken Warriors a burst of competitiveness and stability in their backcourt.
Curry, meanwhile, has been progressing steadily after injuring his left quad on November 26 against the Houston Rockets. He has resumed individual on-court work in the Bay Area and is expected to return to practice on Wednesday, December 10.
His absence was felt immediately. The Warriors managed a win against the New Orleans Pelicans, but they dropped two straight after that. However, they have clawed back with two consecutive wins heading into his return.
The Warriors return to action on Friday, December 12, when they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, a game that could mark the reunion of Curry and his newest backcourt partner, Spencer.
