Steve Kerr has confirmed that Brandon Williams will make the Golden State Warriors’ opening night roster, having entered training camp with a completely non-guaranteed, minimum contract that he signed with the franchise in August.
Williams has been one of the standout players for the Warriors so far in preseason, leaving absolutely no surprise that the 26-year-old will be part of the roster after struggling to find a suitor despite a career-best season with the Dallas Mavericks last season.
Warriors confirm Brandon Williams will have his contract guaranteed
Only Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Bennett Stirtz has more points this preseason than the 57 Williams has dropped through four games. Stirtz has also played 22 more minutes, with Williams posting 30.1 points per 36 minutes on an incredibly efficient 61.8% shooting from the floor.
Kerr reiterated on Monday that Williams is Golden State's backup point guard ahead of opening night, hopefully giving them an upgrade over what Pat Spencer delivered as Stephen Curry's backup last year.
It hasn't all been perfect from Williams in preseason though. The fifth-year guard has 14 turnovers to just nine assists through four games, with Kerr declaring the need for Williams to look after the ball as he runs the bench unit.
"He is the backup point guard. He is the ballhandler coming off the bench, and there's a lot of responsibility that comes in that role, and a big part of that responsibility is ball security," Kerr said.
Brandon Williams needs to prove his worth before Jimmy Butler return
Williams' role comes in part due to Jimmy Butler's long-term injury, with the six-time All-Star not available to run the offense when Curry is off the floor. That means Williams needs to prove his worth before Butler returns in January or February, particularly when only $1.4 million of his $2.6 million contract is guaranteed come opening night.
Kerr and the coaching staff may give some leeway to Williams early in the season when it comes to turnovers, but that simply won't be the case when Butler returns. The 37-year-old's impact after his arrival in February 2025 stemmed in part due to his ball security, offering Golden State a reliable ballhandler and creator when Curry was off the floor.
The Warriors' lack offensive creation outside of Williams entering the season, meaning they have little choice but to have him run the second unit. Yet if he can't continue the strong preseason scoring and efficiency, and if the turnovers become more on an issue, he could be quickly out of the rotation once Butler returns.
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