Ex-Lacrosse Icon to NBA Hero: Pat Spencer’s Stunning Rise Lands Full Warriors Contract

Pat Spencer’s unlikely journey from lacrosse legend to full-time NBA guard reached another milestone this week, as the Golden State Warriors upgraded the 27-year-old from a two-way contract to a standard NBA deal for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. A RAPID RISE IN THE BAY Signed to a two-way slot last summer, Spencer forced the Warriors’ hand with energetic two-way play off the bench. Through 28 games he is averaging 6.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds in just under 18 minutes while shooting 38 % from three, giving Golden State a secondary ball-handler behind Stephen Curry and Chris Paul. Head coach Steve Kerr has praised Spencer’s “fearless downhill mentality,” a trait honed during years of attacking lacrosse cages rather than NBA rims. FROM TEWAARATON TO THE ASSOCIATION Spencer is already a household name in lacrosse circles. At Loyola University Maryland he set the NCAA Division I record for career assists (231) and captured the 2019 Tewaaraton Award, the sport’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. Instead of turning pro in Major League Lacrosse, the 6-foot-3 Maryland native used his graduate year to play basketball at Northwestern, where he averaged 10.4 points and 3.9 boards and reignited a childhood dream of reaching the NBA. BETTING ON HIMSELF—AND WINNING Undrafted in 2020, Spencer spent two seasons in Germany and the G-League polishing his handle and perimeter defense. The Warriors signed him to an Exhibit 10 deal in 2024, converted it to a two-way contract in October, and now to a full roster spot—putting him under team control through June and making him playoff-eligible. WHY THE MOVE MATTERS FOR GOLDEN STATE 1. Back-court depth: With Gary Payton II still nursing a hamstring strain, Spencer’s 6-3 frame and 6-8 wingspan give the Warriors another point-of-attack defender. 2. Roster flexibility: Upgrading Spencer opens a two-way slot for the front office ahead of March’s buyout market. 3. Culture fit: General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. cited Spencer’s “relentless competitiveness,” echoing The Athletic’s profile describing how the guard “goes apes—” once he steps on court. STATS THAT TELL THE STORY • 47 %: Spencer’s field-goal percentage on drives, second among Warriors guards behind Curry. • +5.8: Golden State’s net rating in Spencer’s minutes, per team tracking. • 9.2: Deflections per 36 minutes, illustrating the hand-eye coordination that once made him lacrosse’s best passer. WHAT’S NEXT Golden State finishes a five-game road swing Friday in Denver before returning home for a Valentine’s Day matchup with Memphis. Expect Spencer to retain a 15-to-20-minute role as Kerr juggles lineups ahead of the stretch run. SEO KEYWORDS: Pat Spencer, Golden State Warriors, NBA contract, two-way upgrade, lacrosse star, Loyola Tewaaraton award, Northwestern basketball, Warriors news February 2026, Pat Spencer stats. Search interest in “Pat Spencer NBA” has surged 320 % week-over-week, and with the Warriors in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, the multi-sport phenom’s story is only getting bigger.