Second-round pick shines in Warriors’ first summer league game
SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry popped up on the big screen sitting with his son, Canon, in one of the Chase Center suites and threw his signature “night, night” move to the delight of the crowd. But that was the closest the crowd would get to seeing a big-name at the Warriors’ California Classic game against Sacramento on Saturday.
Moses Moody and James Wiseman sat out and Jonathan Kuminga is still in the Congo, celebrating the championship in his home country. First-round pick Patrick Baldwin Jr. is still recovering from injury and second-rounder Ryan Rollins is out for the entire summer league with a foot fracture. So a roster of unfamiliar faces had their chance to make a good first impression. One player stood out in the Warriors’ 86-68 loss to the Kings.
Gui Santos, the Warriors’ 55th overall pick in this year’s draft, showed a knack for scoring and impressive feel. He led the team with 12 points and five rebounds at the half and turned on the jets in the second half to finish with a team-leading 23 points and six rebounds.
The 20-year-old had an impressive sequence in the third quarter that began with a steal — one of three he had in the game — and an and-1 bucket in transition with his signature Euro-step.
“In Brazil, everyone knows me because I know how to do that,” Santos said. “I always do that. You’re going to see that a lot.”
He answered the Kings’ fourth-overall pick Keegan Murray’s 3-pointer with a 3 of his own, his first of the game. He took a heat-check step-back 3-point attempt in the Warriors’ next possession, missing off the rim. But it was clear Santos was Golden State’s the most electric player of the evening.
Even his six turnovers were a positive sign, Warriors summer league coach Seth Cooper said.
“Some of the young guys that get in the NBA that have a lot of turnovers turn out to be good players,” he said.
Part of Santos’ growth during summer league will be about honing his quick decision-making skills — even if those plays turn out poorly.
“He showed a knack for offensively having an effect on the game,” Cooper said. “For a guy playing for the first time in the United States, I give him a lot of credit.”
Santos was drafted out of Brazil, where he played for the professional league’s Minas Storm. Santos came at the recommendation of Warriors’ former development coach and player Leandro Barbosa, who played with Santos for Minas from 2018 to 2020.
Santos is 6-foot-8 and shows plenty of potential as a point forward for his strong abilities as a playmaker. His fit with the team depends on how his shooting and defense evolves, which will be something to watch throughout summer league.
Santos said he was “nervous” before the game about navigating the speed difference between international basketball and the quicker American version.
It’s to be determined if Santos will return to Brazil after summer league or if he will agree to terms on a contract with the Santa Cruz Warriors, the Warriors G League affiliate.
Other highlights include a buzzer-beater 3-pointer at the half from Lester Quiñones, an undrafted guard out of the University of Memphis the Warriors signed to a two-way deal on draft night. Quiñones finished with seven points and five rebounds.
Guard Payton Willis had 12 points, the second-most for the Warriors, with five rebound and two assists.