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Malevy Leons #33 of the Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have gotten pretty consistent performances this season from Malevy Leons. At least, that been the case with the Santa Cruz Warriors, for whom Leons has played 17 games and posted averages of 13.8 points and 7.1 rebounds.
But the Golden State Warriors had only, coming into Wednesday’s road win in Memphis, used Leons in five NBA games this season since signing him toa two-way contract in December. Leons had totaled just six points in his Warriors career, playing 21 minutes. That pretty well matched what he did last year when he played for the Thunder and their G League team–Leons made six NBA appearances for a total of 20 minutes.
On Wednesday, though, the Warriors were desperate, already with Stephen Curry (knee, re-evaluated next week); Jimmy Butler (ACL tear, out for the season); and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) on the injury report in the morning. De’Andre Melton (rest amid knee rehab) and Draymond Green (back injury) were also ruled out, leaving Golden State with just nine healthy players.
Warriors Give 2-Way His Most-Ever NBA Minutes
That meant that Leons would be getting the first serious minutes of his NBA career, and he did not disappoint. He was the only Warriors players to not hit double-figures in scoring, but he finished with nine points on 3-for-5 shooting in 18 minutes.
In just one game, he practically doubled the minutes he has played all season. It remains to be seen if he will be used much going forward, as the 6-foot-9 Dutch combo forward only secured his playing time in the Memphis blowout win after Green was ruled out for the game.
Leons did take advantage of his opportunity, and he said he’d been well-prepared for it.
“I was just excited and ready to go. Those chances don’t come around often and then I was definitely going to grab it,” Leons said.
‘Malevy Leons Was Awesome’
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was impressed. It’s worth remembering, of course, that the Grizzlies are not exactly playing their front-line players, with both Ja Morant and Zach Edey out and Jaren Jackson Jr. having been traded to the Jazz.
Said Kerr: “A really good night for everybody who stepped on the floor, you know, missing so many guys. Thought Malevy was awesome. The energy, defending without fouling, you know, creating some problems for them at the defensive end of the floor, and then making some nice plays on offense as well. It was fun to watch him.”
And wing Moses Moody also had some love for what he saw from Leons, who came to the US in 2020 to play for Mineral Hills Junior College before transferring to Bradley.
Moody recognized what it was like for Leons to grapple with the process of figuring out how to play in the NBA.
He told reporters: “It’s cool for me to also see somebody who is in a position that I was in, trying to figure it out, trying to get something. For it to happen, for him to have a good game like that and the energy, the love from everybody else supporting it — it’s cool to see.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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