Warriors’ Unlikely Star Sends Strong Message Before Lakers Game

The Golden State Warriors have been forced to find answers in unexpected places this season. Jimmy Butler is done for the year. Stephen Curry has missed nine straight games with a knee injury. Kristaps Porzingis has played once since arriving at the trade deadline. The injury list has been relentless.

But within that adversity, something has quietly taken shape. The ball is moving. Players are finding each other. And one name has started to emerge in the middle of it all.

Friday, ahead of Saturday’s home matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, Gui Santos spoke about what this stretch has meant for him.

Santos Opens Up on His Expanded Role

The numbers tell the story. On the season, Santos is averaging 1.7 assists per game. Over his last five outings, that figure has jumped to 4.6. The ball-handling responsibilities have increased in the absence of Curry, and Santos has stepped into them with confidence.

He did not hide how much he is enjoying it.

“I’m loving it because when you’re on the NBA floor and you’ve got a little bit more freedom to find teammates and either go to the basket and do all that, that gives you so much more joy to play,” Santos told reporters Friday. “I really love it, the momentum.”

That kind of energy is contagious. It shows up in the team’s recent ball movement numbers. Golden State has recorded 37 or more assists three times in their last five games, including a season-high 42 in Sunday’s win over the Denver Nuggets. For context, the Warriors hit that 37-assist mark just twice in their first 54 games combined. The difference is striking.

Santos understands what is driving it. More freedom, more responsibility, more trust from Steve Kerr and the coaching staff. When those things align, the game opens up in ways it cannot when a player is operating within a narrower role.

What Changes When Curry and Porzingis Return

Santos was grounded when asked about the bigger picture. He knows this version of his role has an expiration date. When Curry comes back and Porzingis finds his footing, the rotation shifts and the ball-handling responsibilities redistribute. That is the reality of playing alongside two of the most ball-dominant players on the roster.

He is not bothered by it.

“Of course, we know when we have Steph and Kristaps that we’re going to be a lot different,” Santos said. “But we still have a great team. Everybody has been playing together, everybody’s been playing well.”

That maturity matters. Santos is not trying to hold onto something that was never meant to be permanent. He is making the most of his opportunity while it exists and trusting that the performances will speak for themselves when the dust settles.

The Warriors have had multiple players score 10 or more points in each of their recent wins. That kind of balance is difficult to maintain over a full season, but it reflects what this group is capable of when everyone is locked in and the ball finds the right hands at the right time.

What This Means for the Warriors

Golden State is 31-28 and eighth in the Western Conference, trailing the sixth-seeded Lakers by 3.5 games with 23 left to play. Saturday’s matchup at Chase Center is as close to a must-win as a February game can be. Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves present a genuine challenge. The Warriors will need everyone pulling in the same direction.

Santos has given them something real in recent weeks. Not a star turn, but consistent, unselfish play that has made the offense harder to defend. For a team navigating an injury crisis, that is exactly what the situation called for.

Final Word for the Warriors

The Warriors did not plan for this version of their season. Injuries have forced them to improvise, adjust, and lean on players who were not expected to carry this kind of load.

Santos has responded. The assist numbers reflect it. The team’s ball movement reflects it. And his comments Friday reflected something equally important — a player who genuinely loves what he is doing right now, not despite the circumstances, but because of them.

Curry will return. Porzingis will get healthy. The rotation will change.

Until then, Santos is making sure the Warriors do not miss a beat.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins