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Deivon Smith during his time with St John’s in March 2025<\/p>\n
Despite dropping seven of their last 11 games entering the All-Star break and their first contest afterwards, the Golden State Warriors<\/a> returned to the win column on Sunday with a statement performance.<\/p>\n With Brandin Podziemski<\/a> scoring 12 of his 18 points in the final five minutes of the fourth-quarter, the Warriors overcame a dominant 35-point, 20-rebound, 12-assist triple-double from Nikola Jokic<\/a> to secure a 128-117 victory over the Denver Nuggets<\/a>.<\/p>\n Moses Moody<\/a>, Al Horford<\/a>, and De\u2019Anthony Melton<\/a> led the way offensively with 23, 22, and 20 points, respectively, helping Golden State improve to 30-27 on the season.<\/p>\n The win came with Stephen Curry<\/a> still sidelined due to a lingering knee injury that is expected to keep him out for the foreseeable future<\/a>.<\/p>\n While the Warriors continue navigating inconsistency at the NBA<\/a> level, another encouraging storyline has been quietly unfolding<\/a> within the organization\u2019s developmental ranks.<\/p>\n Golden State Warriors Seeing Early Returns From Undrafted Guard<\/p>\n On Sunday, the Santa Cruz Warriors secured a 118-113 victory over the Rip City Remix in the G League, led by a six-foot guard who has been with the team for just three games but is already generating significant attention.<\/p>\n Undrafted rookie Deivon Smith<\/a> recorded<\/a> a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead Santa Cruz.<\/p>\n He added two steals and, despite his size, pulled down four offensive rebounds. Although he shot just 3-of-10 from the field, he knocked down a three pointer and converted 7-of-9 free-throw attempts, demonstrating his ability to impact the game across multiple areas.<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s latest performance continues an impressive stretch since being acquired<\/a> from the Atlanta Hawks\u2019 G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, on February 10 in exchange for a first round and second round pick in the 2026 G League Draft.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old was immediately inserted into the line-up during a back-to-back set against the Memphis Hustle, which Santa Cruz split.<\/p>\n In his debut, Smith scored a then career-high 26 points in 31 minutes, shooting 9-of-18 from the field and connecting on two three pointers.<\/p>\n He also contributed five rebounds and seven assists while adding a steal and two blocks, showcasing his defensive instincts and all around impact.<\/p>\n Breakout Performances Suggest Warriors May Have Found Undrafted Gem<\/p>\n Smith followed that performance with an even more impressive outing the following night against Memphis, erupting for a career-high<\/a> 32 points in just 30 minutes off the bench.<\/p>\n He shot 9-of-17 from the field, knocked down four three pointers, and went 5-of-7 from the free throw line.<\/p>\n Smith added a career-best nine rebounds and seven assists, narrowly missing a triple-double that he would later achieve against Rip City. In just three games, he has already established himself as one of Santa Cruz\u2019s most impactful players.<\/p>\n Smith initially signed a training camp contract with the Atlanta Hawks<\/a> before the season but saw limited opportunities before being released.<\/p>\n Prior to beginning his professional career, Smith compiled a five-year collegiate resume<\/a> across Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Utah, and St. John\u2019s, appearing in 139 games and making 65 starts.<\/p>\n During his lone season at Utah in 2023-24, Smith averaged 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.8 assists while shooting an efficient 40.8% from three point range. His strong play earned him a transfer to St. John\u2019s, where he joined Rick Pitino\u2019s program.<\/p>\n Consistent Minutes Help Unlock Smith\u2019s Emerging Potential<\/p>\n