LJ Cryer Returns Tonight: Warriors Rookie Set to Spark Showdown vs Lakers

Golden State, Calif. — LJ Cryer is officially back in Steve Kerr’s rotation, and the timing could not be better for a short-handed Golden State Warriors backcourt. After missing two games with an illness, the rookie guard has been cleared to play in tonight’s nationally televised matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Cryer, 24, signed a two-way contract with Golden State on Dec. 2 after lighting up the G League for 24.3 points per night with the Santa Cruz Warriors. The former Baylor Bear and Houston Cougar has carried that microwave scoring to the NBA, shooting 41 percent from deep in limited minutes and posting a 62 percent effective field-goal rate since the All-Star break. Why his return matters tonight • Stephen Curry is sidelined with a knee sprain, while Gary Payton II (hamstring) and Moses Moody (ankle) remain day-to-day. That leaves Kerr in need of ball-handling and perimeter shooting—two areas where Cryer excels. • The Lakers rank 28th in three-point defense over the last ten games; Cryer’s 9.8 three-point attempts per 36 minutes could stretch Darvin Ham’s defense and open driving lanes for Klay Thompson and Jonathan Kuminga. • Golden State is clinging to the No. 8 seed. A healthy Cryer gives the second unit instant offense and allows Brandin Podziemski to slide back to his natural off-ball role. Path from college champion to Bay Area x-factor A two-time NCAA title-game participant (Baylor 2021 champion, Houston 2025 runner-up), Cryer went undrafted last June but quickly turned heads in Summer League with a 37-point outburst against Sacramento. His compact 6′ 0″ frame belies deep-range power—he led the Big 12 in three-point percentage twice—and a 1.8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio that fits Golden State’s pass-heavy motion offense. What to watch going forward 1. Rotation minutes: Expect roughly 18-22 minutes tonight, with upside for more if his hot hand forces Kerr’s usual “ride the heater” adjustment. 2. Two-way conversion deadline: The NBA’s March 1 deadline to convert two-way players looms. Continued production could earn Cryer a standard contract before the postseason. 3. Fantasy impact: Deep-league managers hunting triples and low turnovers should add Cryer immediately; his ROS (rest-of-season) schedule features five four-game weeks. Bottom line If Cryer’s shooting translates under the bright lights of a playoff push, Golden State may have uncovered its next undrafted gem—and the Lakers could be the first to feel the splash.