Seeing Pat Spencer push the pace with the Warriors, you’d never guess he spent most of his college career dominating a different sport — or that almost no one believed basketball would be the path that stuck.
The Golden State guard — currently on a two-way contract with the Santa Cruz Warriors — was a four-time All-American lacrosse star at Loyola Maryland, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 Premier Lacrosse League collegiate draft and one of the most dominant players in the sport. But Spencer never dressed for the Archers Lacrosse Club. Instead, he used his graduate year to switch sports entirely, joining Northwestern’s basketball program.
For Spencer, the decision was simple.
“Love,” Spencer told reporters when asked if the move was motivated by love or money. “I believe if you have a passion for something, you have to pursue it. Would have loved to have played hoops in college, was a little bit undersized in high school, but still, you know, the competitor that I am today. I wanted to have the chance to play something at a high level and in college, lacrosse just seemed like a more viable option at 5’4, 120 pounds at the time, trying to get recruited, so I put basketball on the back burner, but knew I’d be able to pursue my first love later down the line.”
After a strong grad season at Northwestern, Spencer still wasn’t considered an NBA prospect. He knew why.
“I didn’t shoot the ball well in college, had a lot of work to do on my jump shot, my body wasn’t where I wanted it to be,” Spencer said. “Played lacrosse, couple pounds heavier. That year was big for me as far as the learning curve, figuring out what I needed to do to get to this level. I don’t think there were too many people that were thinking I was going to the NBA … Deep down knew that I could get to this level, but I don’t think there were too many believers outside of myself.”
His path forward was anything but glamorous. When the end of Northwestern’s season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, Spencer signed with Hamburg Towers in Germany. He appeared in just five games. The following year, he landed in the G League.
The outside world had questions — including some at home.
“I think outside of my family, people probably thought I was a little bit crazy,” Spencer admitted. “Sometimes even internally within the family … my lacrosse path was pretty clear. Could have gone the lacrosse route, marketed myself, done club teams and had a good career that way. But started off in Germany, not in the best area, ended up in the G League, making no money at the time. My mom probably thought, ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do when there’s clearly a path laid out for you?’ “
Still, they supported him — and Spencer kept going.
His persistence eventually paid off. Spencer joined Santa Cruz in 2022, made his NBA debut with Golden State in February 2024, and played 39 games for the Warriors in 2024–25 before signing another two-way deal for this season.
Now 29 and firmly part of Golden State’s system, Spencer hasn’t allowed himself much time to celebrate the climb.
“I stay in the moment,” Spencer added. “I haven’t had a chance to really reflect on everything yet. Growing up, had incredible times with my grandparents. My grandfather played minor league ball for the Yankees. I think that’s when I’d like to be able to sit back and reflect on it all — when I’m out of it. To be able to share those moments with loved ones. Right now I’m just in the grind, enjoying the journey every single day … I’ll wait ’til I hang it up to do that.”
For now, Spencer remains focused on the work — the same approach that carried him from lacrosse phenom to NBA guard, long before anyone else believed he could.
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