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Deivon Smith during his time with St John’s in February 2025
Heading into the All-Star break, the Golden State Warriors sit at 29-26 after dropping seven of their last 11 games, firmly entrenched in the Western Conference play-in race.
Jimmy Butler has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season and part of the 2026-27 campaign, and Stephen Curry has recently joined the injury list.
Curry has missed the last five games and has appeared in just two of the past eight. Golden State will hope he returns following the break as the team attempts to steady itself for a late-season push.
Yet while results at the NBA level have been inconsistent, there has been a quieter source of optimism developing within the organization in the G League.
Golden State Warriors Seeing Promise in Santa Cruz
On Thursday, the Santa Cruz Warriors secured a 134-116 victory over the Memphis Hustle, improving to 10-9 in the regular season.
The record may appear modest, but over the past two games, a recent acquisition has begun to generate serious buzz.
Undrafted rookie Deivon Smith erupted for a career-high 32 points in 30 minutes off the bench against Memphis. He shot 9-of-17 from the field, connected on four three-pointers, and went 5-of-7 from the free-throw line.
The 6-foot guard also added a career-best nine rebounds and seven assists, narrowly missing out on a triple-double.
It marked just his second appearance with Santa Cruz after being acquired from the College Park Skyhawks in exchange for a first-round and second-round pick in the 2026 G League Draft.
In his debut on Wednesday, also against Memphis, Smith scored a then career-high 26 points in 31 minutes, shooting 9-of-18 from the field and knocking down two three-pointers.
He contributed five rebounds and seven assists while flashing defensive upside with a steal and two blocks.
In just two games, Smith has made a compelling early impression, raising the possibility that Golden State may have uncovered an overlooked prospect.
Opportunity Unlocking Smith’s Two-Way Upside
Smith signed a training camp deal with the Atlanta Hawks prior to the season but saw limited action in Summer League before being released.
Before turning professional, he compiled an extensive five-year college career across Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Utah, and St. John’s, appearing in 139 games with 65 starts.
During his lone season at Utah in 2023-24, Smith averaged 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.8 assists while shooting 40.8% from three-point range. His performances led to a transfer to St. John’s under Rick Pitino.
Following his release from Atlanta, he joined College Park in the G League, where he averaged 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 20 games, shooting 46.4% from the field and 25% from deep.
Only three of those appearances were starts, but when given extended minutes, his production spiked. In those starts, Smith averaged 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.7 steals in 25.9 minutes.
The pattern is becoming clear, when provided a defined role and consistent opportunity, the 23-year-old responds. That trend has carried into Santa Cruz.
For Golden State, the G League continues to serve as a crucial evaluation ground. A competitive setting that allows the organization to assess talent without committing an NBA roster spot.
Smith is currently on a standard G League contract, typically short-term in nature, but his early returns have been promising.
Sometimes the right environment unlocks a player’s potential. If Smith’s trajectory continues, the Warriors may have quietly identified another under-the-radar contributor worth watching closely.
Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans
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