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Warriors Guard Pat Spencer Calls Out Lottery Teams for Prioritizing Measurables Over IQ

The remark refocused attention on Golden State's skill-first blueprint versus the Wiseman and Kuminga selections.

Overview

  • After a preseason win over the Lakers, Spencer said some organizations keep drafting for length and athleticism instead of basketball IQ, which he argued helps keep them in the lottery.
  • Spencer, a two-way player who transitioned from lacrosse, logged 21 minutes with 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals in the game as he competes for a backup guard role.
  • CBS Sports framed the comment as ironic for Golden State and argued the Warriors veered from their identity by drafting James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga, calling Wiseman a bust and describing Kuminga as a poor fit who the team wants to trade.
  • Fans on social media linked the quote to Kuminga's situation with the Warriors, while past remarks from Steve Kerr highlighted ongoing fit questions and the need for Kuminga to embrace a complementary role.
  • The discussion underscored a league-wide tension over valuing skill and decision-making, with CBS Sports citing counterexamples such as Tyrese Haliburton and Franz Wagner as players teams overlooked for lacking traditional athletic profiles.