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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 12: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors high fives head coach Steve Kerr during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in game six of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
If there is a silver lining to the Golden State Warriors navigating injuries to their stars, it is the unmistakable emergence of power forward Gui Santos.
Gui Santos Seizes His Moment Amid Warriors’ Injuries
With Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler sidelined — and Draymond Green in and out of the lineup — Santos has transformed opportunity into production. The 23-year-old forward continued the most productive stretch of his NBA career Wednesday night, helping the Warriors to a 133–112 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Santos finished with 17 points on an ultra-efficient 6-of-7 shooting, while adding three rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. It was another all-around performance that underscored why his role has expanded rapidly during Golden State’s injury-plagued stretch.
From Second-Round Pick to Reliable Contributor
The Warriors selected Santos No. 55 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, a developmental pick who initially bounced between Golden State and the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors. For much of his early career, minutes were sporadic and expectations modest.
That has changed dramatically over the past month.
Since Jan. 28, the 6-foot-7 Santos is averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 61.3% from the field and 46.7% from three-point range. Over his last four games, he has been even better, posting 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 block per game while logging starter-level minutes.
Kerr Praises Santos’ Expanded Skill Set
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has been quick to highlight Santos’ evolution, noting that his impact now goes far beyond hustle and spot-up shooting.
“He’s taken another step this year, Gui has,” Kerr said after Wednesday’s win. “But now, he’s become more on-ball as a creator [and] a post-up guy. He has the ability to play point guard when the other team is pressuring us. He’s really a versatile player and somebody we really value.”
Santos credited trust — especially from Curry — for fueling his confidence.
“When you know you’re going to play every night, when you know your team trusts you, Steph trusts you, that gives you way more confidence,” Santos said on 95.7 The Game.
The Numbers Highlight a Growing Divide
GettyGui Santos of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Draymond Green during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns.
Beyond the box score, the advanced metrics underline just how impactful Santos has been.
Santos’ plus/minus is +69 overall this season, one of the best marks on the roster. Green, by contrast, sits at -7, a stark gap that mirrors the Warriors’ uneven results.
The split becomes even more pronounced after Butler suffered his ACL injury on Jan. 19. Since that point, Green owns the worst plus/minus on the team at -68, while Santos has posted the fourth-best mark at +12, reinforcing what the eye test has increasingly shown during Golden State’s recent stretch.
Santos Forces a Lineup Conversation
Santos’ rise has coincided with mounting questions about Green’s role, particularly as Golden State adjusts without Curry orchestrating the offense.
The possibility of a lineup shift gained traction this week when The Athletic’s Warriors beat reporter Nick Friedell suggested that Green may now be best utilized in a reduced role.
“I don’t know if it’ll happen by the end of this year,” Friedell said on 95.7 The Game, “but Draymond is probably best served coming off the bench, playing 18 to 20 minutes, giving a defensive jolt when needed.”
Friedell doubled down days later, arguing that both the numbers and the eye test are now aligned.
“They’re just a better team when Draymond is in these more limited minutes right now,” he said.
Efficiency Concerns Add to the Case
Statistically, the concern is difficult to ignore. After opening the season shooting 43.5% from three-point range in October, Green’s efficiency dipped to 28.6% in January and only marginally improved to 31.6% in February.
Green is also averaging 2.7 turnovers per game, second on the team only to Curry. The difference lies in usage: Curry leads the Warriors in offensive responsibility, while Green ranks near the bottom, making each mistake more costly — especially without Curry’s gravity to cover for them.
“I’ve got to do a better job of helping Draymond,” Kerr admitted last week. “The game is so different without Steph. Those two guys have built such a rapport for 14 years now.”
A Decision Is Coming
Kerr has emphasized that Curry’s absence impacts Green more than anyone else, dismantling the two-man game that has long been Golden State’s offensive backbone. Still, even when Curry returns, Santos is forcing a real decision.
He has not merely filled in. He has tilted games.
And with the numbers, the eye test, and momentum all pointing in the same direction, Santos is making a compelling case that his role should remain significant, regardless of who returns to the lineup.
For a Warriors team searching for stability, Gui Santos has become more than a bright spot — he has become a factor that may be impossible to ignore.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
