Because of all the injuries the Golden State Warriors have suffered this season, many players have gotten playing opportunities they otherwise wouldn't have been afforded.
Just over a week ago, Nate Williams played 47 minutes in a game against the Spurs because only 9 players were healthy for the Warriors, even though he's on a two-way contract and likely wouldn't have even been on the main roster without the plethora of injuries.
Even with Steph Curry back in the lineup since Sunday night, the rest of the team is still hampered, along with Curry's minutes restriction, meaning the door is still open for some players to step into massive roles. In the Warriors' 110-105 win over the Kings on Wednesday, it was Pat Spencer reaping the rewards.
Pat Spencer Reflects On Increased Role
Along with getting the starting nod for just the 13th time in his career and the first time in a month, Spencer spent a whopping 41 minutes out on the court. It's the first time Spencer has played more than 40 minutes in a game, eclipsing his previous career-high in minutes of 38 that he set in the same Spurs game that saw Williams play 47 minutes.
After the game, Spencer reflected on his increased role and how it felt to be out there for that long.
"(I'm) pretty wiped. First half was better, second half just lost my legs a little bit. But ultimately just happy we came out with a win ... I played 40 minutes. We’re just a little bit banged up right now so the ball was in my hands a bit more. I want a handful of those back, a couple that weren't great. But just felt like I had it going early and so I stayed aggressive. I just couldn't buy one down the stretch. Lost my legs a little bit, haven't played 40 minutes in quite a while."
Spencer ended the game with 14 points, but as he alluded to, he started to falter in the second half, scoring only three points after halftime and shooting just 1-7 from the field in the final 24 minutes of action.
Spencer's Role Has Fluctuated
Spencer has always been one of the guards towards the end of the bench for the Warriors, but in his third season both in the league and the NBA, he's become a much more valuable piece for the Dubs.
Along with getting his contract guaranteed back in February, Spencer has provided steady play while many other Warriors watch from the sidelines or from home due to injuries.
In the past month, despite Spencer's only start coming in the most recent game against the Kings, he's been solid, scoring 10.3 points per game to go with about 3 rebounds and 4 assists in just over 23 minutes a game.
In the 15-game span dating back to March 10th, Spencer has played three games of 30+ minutes, seven games between 20 and 27 minutes, and five games of less than 20 minutes.
Despite his role and opportunity changing game-to-game, he's been relatively consistent in what he brings to the Warriors, something Steve Kerr and the team surely appreciate.