Getty
Charles Bassey during his time with the San Antonio Spurs in January 2025
Despite experiencing an inconsistent season at the NBA level, the Golden State Warriors have continued to monitor developments within their G League system, where several intriguing storylines have emerged.
In recent weeks, rookie guard Deivon Smith has drawn attention with a string of standout performances, while the signing of Nate Williams to a two-way contract has already looked like a smart addition.
Back in December, Santa Cruz quietly added veteran big man Charles Bassey, strengthening its frontcourt with an experienced and proven presence.
However, after delivering multiple standout performances, Bassey was signed away by the Philadelphia 76ers on consecutive 10-day contracts. Now back with the Warriors’ organization, his long-term situation remains uncertain.
Golden State Warriors Regain Proven Frontcourt Presence in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz had previously acquired Bassey’s returning player rights in a trade with the Delaware Blue Coats, allowing him to rejoin the Warriors’ system after his 10-day deals with Philadelphia expired.
The 25-year-old wasted little time making an impact. In his return against the Rip City Remix on Tuesday, Bassey delivered 24 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block across 33 minutes, shooting an efficient 11-of-18 from the field.
He followed that performance with another dominant showing on Friday in a narrow 130-126 loss to the San Diego Clippers. Bassey once again scored 24 points, this time on 9-of-20 shooting, while adding two made three-pointers in 32 minutes.
Most notably, he controlled the glass with 18 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, while also contributing one assist, one steal, and two blocks in a commanding all-around performance.
In the same contest, Williams led Santa Cruz with 26 points and five assists, while Marcques Bolden and Chance McMillian added 22 and 19 points, respectively.
Smith continued his strong run off the bench with 14 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
Contract Situation Leaves Warriors Vulnerable to Losing Bassey
Through 12 games with Santa Cruz this season, Bassey has averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 57.8% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range.
Even during his brief stint within Philadelphia’s system, Bassey continued to impress at the G League level.
Across three appearances with the Blue Coats, he averaged 21.0 points, 15.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks while shooting 62.5% from the field and connecting on 5-of-9 three-point attempts, highlighting the continued expansion of his offensive range.
Bassey also brings significant NBA experience. Since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2021, he has appeared in 116 NBA games, including a three-year run with the San Antonio Spurs.
That experience gives him a level of readiness rarely seen among G League frontcourt players.
Despite his production and experience, Bassey remains on a standard G League contract, as he is no longer eligible for a two-way deal. That status means he is not tied to Golden State and can sign with any NBA team immediately without compensation.
Philadelphia has already demonstrated how quickly teams can act in these situations, and Bassey’s continued dominance is likely to attract further interest from front offices seeking reliable frontcourt depth.
As the season progresses and roster needs shift, opportunities often increase for high-performing G League players.
Based on his current form, Bassey appears firmly positioned for another NBA call-up, leaving the Golden State Warriors at real risk of losing one of their most impactful developmental contributors.
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
More Heavy on Warriors
Loading more stories