Malevy Leons has been a standout for the Santa Cruz Warriors, and his efforts paid off with a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors in December. Heading into Wednesday's matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, Leons had only appeared in 10 NBA games-five with the Warriors and six previously with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Despite limited NBA experience, Leons made his presence felt on the court for Steve Kerr's squad. He wrapped up the night with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, shooting an efficient 3-of-5 from the field. Post-game, Kerr couldn't hold back his admiration for Leons' contributions during his 17 minutes of action.
“A really good night for everybody who stepped on the floor, you know, missing so many guys. Thought Malevy was awesome," Kerr remarked.
"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.”
Leons has been a key player for Santa Cruz this season, appearing in 17 games and averaging 13.8 points and 7.1 rebounds. His performance against the Grizzlies might just open the door for more opportunities as Golden State deals with injury challenges.
While consistent playing time may be tough to come by this season, Leons can take inspiration from Gui Santos, who showed that excelling in the G-League and making the most of NBA minutes can pave the way to a full contract in the future.