Nate Williams: The Warriors hopeful shaking up the roster race with relentless hustle
But here’s the part that makes people lean in: Williams is turning heads by turning a grueling stretch into a standout audition for the final roster spot.
If you missed the drama, Williams might be the only NBA player who logged four straight days of game time. The schedule looked brutal: 36 minutes with Santa Cruz on Friday, 15 more with Golden State on Saturday, then another 10 in the G League the following afternoon. Yet Williams didn’t blink. He sprinted onto the Chase Center floor with his signature left-handed drive and stubborn grit, chasing down a long rebound ahead of Kawhi Leonard and snatching a Pat Spencer-style 3 for good measure.
In just 21 minutes, he put up 18 points on 5-for-8 shooting and even spent stretches guarding Leonard. The Warriors (31-30) did cough up a 17-point lead in the second half, but Williams answered the call when Golden State needed him most.
“I think Nate has played really well,” coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “It’s been fun watching him. Young player, live body, can make a shot. He guarded Kawhi at times. Made some very impressive plays.” He even dropped a candid detail: Williams had just welcomed a baby, making the breakout feel all the more meaningful.
The night carried extra context: Golden State was missing several key pieces. Jimmy Butler was out for the season, Steph Curry was sidelined for at least four more games with knee issues, Kristaps Porzingis missed his fifth straight game, and with other injuries and late scratches, nine players were active by the fourth quarter, including two-way rosters Malevy Leons and Williams.
Despite the odds and the chaos around him, Williams seized his opportunity. The Warriors rolled the dice on a Steph Curry–Kristaps Porzingis pairing earlier in the season, and Williams proved he could thrive in higher-leverage moments when given the chance.
During the game, he spoke with a calm, fierce certainty about his approach. Asked about the matchup with Leonard, he replied with a bold line: “He’s a great player, but he bleeds just like I bleed. I don’t fear any challenge.” When asked about the source of that edge, Williams pointed to his roots: “I fear God. And I’m from Rochester, New York. In the back streets. If you knew my neighborhood, you’d understand why I’m this way.”
Three days later, Williams reflected on the rapid pace of his rise: joining Golden State on a two-way deal over the All-Star break, moving into a role that had him competing for the vacant 15th roster spot after Pat Spencer’s conversion. He’s not new to the NBA grind—undrafted in 2022 out of Buffalo, after a standout run at Prolific Prep in Napa, and stints with the Blazers, Rockets, and their G League affiliates, with four waivers under his belt.
What’s ahead for Williams rests on the simple math of opportunity: hit open shots, defend with tenacity, and prove you can bring energy and size to a rotation that needs it. His early form? Clean mechanics, a high release, and a signature celebratory skip after his first open-corner 3 against the Clippers.
Former teammates and opponents alike have noticed. Al Horford highlighted Williams’s defensive instincts, relentless offensive rebounding, and timely 3-point shooting. “He has size, he knows who he is, and that consistency is valuable for a team seeking energy and toughness from its depth,” Horford observed.
Personal milestones have also followed Williams’s professional surge. He learned of the Warriors’ signing on Valentine’s Day while relaxing with his fiancée, and soon after, the couple welcomed their first child on Feb. 24. Then he shifted to Santa Cruz, where he immediately began contributing—scoring 55 points across his first two games, before a precautionary 10-minute appearance that still yielded 10 points.
Now, with another big night under his belt, Williams is banking on continued opportunities to show what he can do when the rotation shakes out. If his early-season form persists, he’ll earn more minutes regardless of how the injury report evolves, and the Warriors will have a clear candidate for that final roster spot.
