SAN FRANCISCO — One of the Warriors’ biggest successes of their recent draft classes secured at least his short-term future with Golden State.
The Warriors on Saturday morning announced an agreement with Gui Santos on a contract extension. The team did not disclose terms of the deal, but ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that it will pay the 23-year-old Brazilian wing $15 million over the next three years.
Golden State selected Santos with the 55th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
His energy on the court and bubbly presence in the locker room made him a quick hit within the organization, but this season he has emerged as a reliable rotation member — one the Warriors were comfortable committing to through at least 2027-28.
The deal, according to Charania, includes a player option for 2028-29.
Santos was set to become a restricted free agent after this season and, with his emergence over the past month, would have likely had a few suitors.
Santos made his fourth start of the season Jan. 26 against the Timberwolves, turned in a double-double and has scored in double figures in all but one game since.
Over the 12-game stretch, Santos has averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals while playing 28.8 minutes per game.
The biggest difference has been the emergence of his 3-point shot, connecting at a 43.1% rate from beyond the arc compared with a career mark of 36.3%.
Santos’ rise also coincides with the end of Jonathan Kuminga’s tumultuous tenure. In many ways, Santos has grown into the player coach Steve Kerr always envisioned Kuminga could be.
While Santos lacks the athleticism and pure skill that made Kuminga a lottery pick, his ability to make quick decisions on offense and his relentless motor on defense allowed him to fit better within the Warriors’ well-established system with Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
