Warriors’ Gui Santos Predicted to Break Out as a Star

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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts with Gui Santos #15 after a three-point shot towards the LA Clippers to go up 120-117 within the second half of an NBA play-in event sport at Intuit Dome on April 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California.

Former NBA 3-Point Contest winner Tim Legler believes Gui Santos has all of the instruments to grow to be a long-term starter for the Golden State Warriors.

While reacting to Santos’ breakout efficiency towards the LA Clippers within the first play-in sport, Legler broke down why the Brazilian had a brilliant future forward of him.

“He can handle it, pass, shoot. He’s athletic,” Legler stated of the 23-year-old Santos on the “All-NBA Podcast,” by way of X account Chef.

“He defends with a conscience. He’s always smiling, like he’s just one of those guys you kind of pull for, and it’s gone from that to like ‘Okay, this is a really cool story. They got guys out and now he’s got a chance and he has jumped on it.’”

Gui Santos Shines for Warriors

As Legler alluded to, Santos, the Warriors’ 2022 second-round choose, has regularly blossomed into an NBA-caliber rotational participant after years within the G League.

“We did a feature when he called up his parents when the Warriors finally gave him a guaranteed contract this year, and like the tears on the phone, just taking us through that, just an incredible human side to it, but forget all that, man, the guy can play.

“Now I’m watching this guy and I’m going ‘Gui Santos is a PLAYER’. He’s a legitimate player to play heavy rotational minutes for a good team,” added Legler.

Warriors Vs. Suns Play-In

Santos is anticipated to stay within the beginning lineup for Friday night time’s win-or-go-home sport towards the Phoenix Suns — and for good motive. He had 20 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists within the win towards the Clippers, and was a team-high +16 on the ground.

Over his final eight video games — together with Wednesday’s play-in win — Santos has averaged 17.1 factors, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals whereas making 1.5 threes per sport. Legler praised the teen for seizing his alternative late within the common season when the Warriors have been lacking a number of key starters due to accidents.

“He’s getting an opportunity because they’ve had all these injuries and he just starts playing great, like really impactful both ends,” Legler stated of Santos.

While Santos and the Warriors beat the Suns 3-1 within the regular-season collection, they enter Friday’s play-in sport as +130 underdogs on the highway. The stage could also be set for an additional Stephen Curry masterpiece after the two-time MVP produced a classic clutch efficiency in Wednesday’s play-in win towards the Clippers.

The winner of the Warriors vs. Suns play-in sport will face the Oklahoma City Thunder within the first spherical of the playoffs.

Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports activities author with practically 20 years of publishing expertise, together with bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and extra. More about Sai Mohan