PHILADELPHIA — As the Golden State Warriors wait for Stephen Curry (quad), Jimmy Butler (knee) and now, Draymond Green (foot) to heal, one thing has become clear over the last week that got solidified even more during the Warriors heartbreaking 99-98 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.
It’s time for Pat Spencer to play even more.
If that wasn’t clear enough during his last two games when he combined for 33 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in spot minutes off Steve Kerr’s bench, it became even more obvious with just over a minute left in Thursday’s game. With 1:15 left on clock and the Warriors, who had been down by as many as 24 points, clinging to a one point lead, Spencer took a pass from Warriors big man Quinten Post and fired up a three-pointer a couple steps behind the line with Sixers’ center Adem Bona’s right arm in his face. The shot went up with no hesitation — and then it went in.
Spencer confidently walked towards center court and pounded his chest — with a few potent words for the Philly crowd in the process. The basket gave Spencer 12 points in the fourth quarter. The whole sequence was exactly what the Warriors have been missing without Curry on the floor. It was clutch shot making and confidence wrapped into one moment. It left an impression on the Warriors’ bench — and Spencer’s play is clearly making its mark with the man who makes the biggest decisions on the floor: Steve Kerr.
“Pat was just incredible out there,” Kerr said. “And controlled the game. He’s just about the right stuff. Organizationally, you just want to stand for something. You want to have an identity. And it’s got to be about competitive spirit and just playing together, competing, and that’s what’s so beautiful about what that group did down the stretch.”
After taking Spencer out late in Tuesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in favor of Brandin Podziemski, Kerr said it was a “no brainer” to leave the 29-year-old late in Thursday’s game. Spencer continues to give the Warriors a boost without Curry on the floor, providing a spark for the rest of the group that his teammates feed off of when he’s out there. Kerr has been very complimentary of Spencer’s demeanor throughout the season, but the Northwestern alum’s play of late deserves a different conversation.
16 in the game.
12 in the 4th quarter.Pat Spencer is taking over on NBA TV!
Watch the finish: https://t.co/69azjtucwT pic.twitter.com/EMHMR1ZCkY
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2025
With Curry, and potentially Butler and Green, all out for a stretch of games, Spencer has earned even more playing time than the average of about 22 minutes a game that Kerr has found for him recently. Spencer is the hot hand the Warriors need until their core stars return, and Kerr should find a way to ride that hand until Spencer shows that the roll he’s on right now starts to fade. Where those minutes from, and from which players, remain to be seen — but Kerr acknowledged that Spencer has earned even more time with his recent play.
“Without Steph, for sure, he’s got to be out there,” Kerr said. “It would be great to find a way to get him on the roster because he’s kind of the perfect guy to have as a backup. He can win you games like he almost did tonight, but if he doesn’t play, he brings the same energy, the same attitude, next game. So it would be great if we could find a way, but it’s a little tricky.”
The tricky part, as Kerr has mentioned several times, is that Spencer is still on a two-way contract, which limits the amount of games he can play until his contract could be converted. The issue for Spencer and the Warriors is that, unless they make a move closer to the deadline, it’s unclear at the moment when exactly that would be able to happen.
In the short-term, Spencer wears the look of a man who knows he has done all he can to let his play speak for itself. He knows the Warriors are deep, but he believes in himself and his talent when given the opportunity.
“I don’t envy Steve’s job at all,” Spencer said. “I think the most important thing for us is finding an identity. When we have #30 we have a pretty clear cut identity of how we want to play when we’re out there. When we don’t, we tend to slow the ball down with certain groups. Other groups we have a little bit more pace. So right now ultimately because of injuries, because of absences, we’re trying to really find an identity with where we’re at. I feel like I can be a big part of that equation, but I do not envy Steve’s job at all.”
The reality is that Spencer, the former lacrosse player, gives the Warriors exactly the type of identity they need without their stars on the floor. He’s tough, he’s fearless, and right now, he’s shooting the ball well from outside. But in order for him to play more, it would mean Kerr would likely have to take even more minutes away from Podziemski. It would also alter other lineups in the process — but if that’s what it takes for the Warriors to get back on track offensively, that’s what has to happen in the short-term.
Kerr was asked about the continued up and down play of the three young players the Warriors were hoping would take a bigger step this season: Podziemski, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga. Moody went 5-for-10 from the field but wasn’t in Kerr’s closing lineup as the veteran coach opted to go with Gui Santos, Buddy Hield, Will Richard, Post and Spencer. Kuminga and Podziemski combined to go 6-for-20 from the field and also didn’t play in crunch time.
The nature of the trio’s up and down play has been well-documented throughout the season, but as the Warriors head into Christmas, Moody continues to have up and down games. Podziemski has been up and down as well — and is playing, at times, as if his confidence has been shaken by his early season start. Kuminga, after not playing down the stretch in Tuesday’s loss, looked disengaged at times on Thursday. He’s also dealt with injuries after a strong opening to the season.
“Every game’s different,” Kerr said. “Tonight was about the other group. Next game could be about those three, so you just roll from game to game and do what you can to try to win the game. And that’s why we have 15, 17 players, if you include our two-ways. We got a lot of guys who can play and I think we played 14 people tonight. So we believe in our depth and we know that a lot of guys can help us win.”
The bottom line for the Warriors is that Moody, Podziemski and Kuminga haven’t been as consistent as they were hoping to see. Spencer, in a small sample size, has been recently. Kerr would be wise to keep going to him, just like he kept going with Kuminga early in the season. Spencer understands his role, he knows he’s not going to see the floor nearly as much once Curry and Butler return, but he also sees his opportunity in the present.
No matter what happens moving forward he knows that Kerr has stood behind him when he didn’t have to and he respects that.
“I appreciate it,” Spencer said. “He’s had my back the whole time. For me, it’s just who I am, it’s innate. I’m going to go out there and compete and lay it on the line no matter who I’m playing against so (I’m) thankful he follows that and sees that.”