While the end of last season was obviously a disappointment for the Golden State Warriors, the ascendance of Gui Santos into a primary scoring role was a valuable silver lining.
Santos averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and four assists while shooting an even 50% from the field from February first onward— when the Warriors desperately needed pieces to step up in the absence of their stars. If things couldn't get any better, Golden State was able to ink Santos to a three-year, $15 million contract extension before the end of the season.
Santos projects to be a valuable role player on this team moving forward. But was his breakout simply a result of enhanced opportunity? Will we see him revert into his passive shell if he's relegated to a bench role in 2026-27?
These are legitimate concerns, but the downsides shouldn't be considered the most likely scenarios. Santos showed last season that he has the size and touch to be a consistent interior scorer and a relatively capable floor spacer, and that should translate this season no matter what sort of role he ultimately takes on.
Gui Santos will likely come off the bench— but the Warriors still need him to be at the top of his game
As of now, it seems as though the starting lineup for Golden State will look something like this— Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski/De'Anthony Melton, Yaxel Lendeborg, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzingis.
There's room to argue that a pairing of Lendeborg and Santos might actually provide some higher offensive upside in the frontcourt. But Lendeborg has enough of a perimeter shot to play alongside Green, and Green is being paid $27.7 million to remain a member of the Warriors this season. He deserves another chance to see if he can maximize his defensive impact before Golden State even thinks about moving him to the bench.
That likely leaves Santos is a bench role to start the season. But that doesn't mean his impact will be entirely mitigated.
If he we assume, just for now, that Podziemski wins the starting backcourt role next to Curry, the bench unit includes Melton, Al Horford, Will Richard, Gary Payton II, and Santos. Out of those players, who do you trust most to have the ball in their hands and create their own shot?
I think there's ample room to argue for Santos.
One of the problems the Warriors have consistently faced over the past couple of seasons has been finding enough juice off the bench to keep the offense afloat when Curry is off the floor. Santos likely isn't the majorly impactful scorer Golden State has been seeking all this time. But he proved that, with the right opportunity, he can score efficiently and create his own shot on the interior.
The Warriors need energy off the bench just as desperately as they need it in the starting lineup this season. Even if Santos' minutes take a slight hit, he therefore still has a path to become a highly impactful piece in the Warriors rotation in 2026-27.
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