Why Steph Curry isn’t surprised by Pat Spencer’s impact, rise with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Though Pat Spencer’s rise from Warriors bench-warmer to legitimate NBA impact player comes as a surprise to most of the world, his veteran teammates already had seen enough to believe it was possible.
Count Stephen Curry, having observed Spencer for more than two years in Golden State, as a ground-floor believer.
“It’s amazing to watch,” Curry said Thursday after practice. “We’ve seen it over the summers, in practice, when he’s been out there in short spurts. He just has a presence about him that he just knows the game. He plays with 120 percent of confidence every time he’s out there. And as a kind of playmaker role, it was cool to see him kind of adapt to what we needed pretty much overnight. And I think it’ll only help us as we keep moving forward.”
As Spencer was bringing welcome intensity to the Warriors last week, Curry was a distant observer. He remained in the Bay Area to rehab what he described as “a (quad) contusion that combined with a muscle strain,” but he took note of Spencer – making his first career starts – taking a leadership role in victories at Cleveland and Chicago.
“We try to play with joy; I know I do,” Curry said. “I think me and him are competing for crazy celebrations and stuff. It’s like a contagious vibe when you have a guy out there that’s showing that emotion. And it’s natural, it’s organic, it’s authentic. It’s who he is.”
Spencer has strung together four consecutive high-quality games – losses to the Thunder and 76ers, wins over the Cavaliers and Bulls – averaging 16 points on 59.1-percent shooting from the field, including 75 percent from deep. His assist-to-turnover ratio is better than 3 to 1. His bravado is off any chart you can imagine.
And yet, after appearing in 45 games over his first two seasons with Golden State and its affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors, Spencer spent last summer as an unrestricted free agent.
As much as the Warriors liked what they saw from Spencer over the past two seasons in the G League and during NBA practices, it wasn’t until one day before training camp in September that they re-signed him – under a two-way contract.
In the blink of an eye, Spencer has ascended from playing meager and mostly inconsequential minutes to being a fixture in coach Steve Kerr’s playing rotation.
“Energy and the competitive spirit (are) a huge part of winning basketball,” Kerr said. And that’s what Pat has brought to us. There’s a different vibe on the floor and in the locker room with Pat doing what he’s doing. He’s changed our team.”
Spencer quickly has emerged as Golden State’s most suitable option as the primary backup point guard behind Curry. Or alongside the team’s franchise player.
“I know when I’m out there to be able to play off the ball with him, initiating, taking advantage of the space and all that type of stuff, it should be pretty seamless,” Curry said. “I’m happy for him. Obviously, he puts the work in. And again, he’s been waiting for his time, and it’s cool to see him take advantage of it.”
The Warriors are being rewarded for their patience in a 29-year-old who stuck with them. Who waited his turn and can count the days until he is rewarded with a standard NBA contract. Who before last week was more famous for lacrosse than basketball.
Draymond Green co-signs on Curry’s belief in Spencer. And now, so does Jimmy Butler III, who wasn’t a Warrior for Spencer’s first year-plus with the team. They’ve seen his work in the gym. During practices. They’re not shocked.
When any fringe NBA player has the endorsement of his team’s veterans, he has made quite the journey. Spencer has a confirmed role on a Golden State team with lofty aspirations, and the uncles on the roster believe he’s good enough to keep it.
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