In a move that’s shaking up the Western Conference and sending shockwaves through the NBA, the Golden State Warriors have pulled off what can only be described as an insane steal by signing elite sharpshooter and NCAA champion LJ Cryer to a two-way contract. This undrafted gem, who’s been lighting up the G-League with a scorching 24.3 points per game and a lethal 41.4% from beyond the arc on over 12 attempts per night, is exactly the kind of high-impact addition that could redefine the Warriors’ season. With the team grappling with injuries to aging stars like Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Al Horford, plus the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Jonathan Kuminga, this bold roster tweak isn’t just timely—it’s transformative. The league just changed, folks.
The Cryer Phenomenon: From College Glory to G-League Dominance
LJ Cryer’s journey to the NBA has been nothing short of a highlight reel. A key piece of Baylor’s 2021 NCAA national championship team, Cryer earned third-team All-Big 12 honors during his junior season in Waco. He then transferred to Houston, where he elevated his game further, snagging second-team and third-team All-American nods before capping it off with full All-American status in 2025. Across five collegiate seasons, Cryer averaged 13.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, while draining threes at a crisp 41.3% clip. His teams lost just 29 regular-season games, made March Madness every year, and reached the Sweet Sixteen three times. This isn’t just a shooter; this is a winner who’s been battle-tested at the highest levels of amateur hoops.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1995627251501875668
After going undrafted, Cryer initially signed with the Warriors over the summer but was waived before the season tipped off. Undeterred, he joined the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G-League, where he’s been an absolute force. Despite the team’s struggles, Cryer has posted eye-popping numbers: 24.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game on 44.4% field goal shooting. That 41.4% from deep on 12.4 attempts? That’s not just efficient—it’s elite volume shooting that screams “microwave scorer.” As Anthony Slater reported on X, “The Warriors plan to add guard LJ Cryer on a two-way contract, per sources. To make room, the Warriors are waiving Jackson Rowe.”
Embed X: https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/1994642285594906706
Golden State fans got a tantalizing preview of Cryer’s potential during preseason, where he led the team in three-point percentage (54.5%) over the last four games and topped the plus-minus charts. He even delivered a clutch fourth-quarter explosion in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Peter O’Keefe nailed it: “This rookie is SPECIAL!” With Cryer’s all-around stat lines in the G-League, including ridiculous performances that have gone viral, the Warriors are betting on his ability to inject instant offense into a lineup that’s currently 15th in the league in three-point percentage.
Why This Move is a Game-Changer for the Warriors
Through the first six weeks of the 2025-26 season, the Warriors sit at a middling 11-10 after 21 games. Injuries have ravaged their veteran core: Stephen Curry is sidelined with a quad strain, Butler and Green have battled nagging issues, Horford’s age is showing, and Kuminga’s missed time has left a void that’s hard to ignore. The health of these older stars can’t be relied upon—only hoped for—and the Kuminga situation feels like a ticking time bomb with his status still uncertain.
Enter Cryer, whose signing comes at a time when the Warriors have minimal financial flexibility. To create the roster spot, they waived Jackson Rowe, a necessary but “long overdue” move as Slater described it. This isn’t just about adding depth; it’s about addressing a glaring need for perimeter shooting and youthful energy. Cryer’s ability to stretch the floor with high-volume, high-efficiency threes could complement the Curry brothers—yes, brothers—once Steph returns.
Speaking of which, the Warriors also recently re-signed Seth Curry to a one-year deal, fulfilling their promise after cap issues forced his initial release. The younger Curry, entering his 12th NBA season, brings a proven track record: 945 career threes at 43.3% (seventh-highest in league history) and an NBA-best 45.6% from deep last season with the Charlotte Hornets. As Shams Charania and Anthony Slater noted for ESPN, Seth started his pro career in Santa Cruz but carved his own path across 10 NBA teams to escape his brother’s shadow. Now, reunited with Golden State, he adds another layer of shooting prowess to a team desperate for it.
However, this puts added pressure on Buddy Hield, who’s been mired in trade rumors and is posting career lows: 7.2 points on 40.9% shooting and a dismal 30.8% from three. O’Keefe points out that while Seth might not be a double-digit scorer, his efficiency could outshine Hield’s current struggles.
The Bigger Picture: How Cryer Shifts the NBA Landscape
This signing isn’t just a win for the Warriors—it’s a steal that could alter the balance of power in the West. Imagine Cryer stepping into meaningful minutes, providing the spark off the bench that turns close games into blowouts. His G-League dominance suggests he’s ready for the leap, and with the Warriors’ history of developing talent (hello, Jordan Poole and others), he could become the next breakout star.
The league just changed because moves like this remind us that undrafted players can flip scripts. In a season where age is catching up to Golden State’s icons, Cryer’s youth, championship pedigree, and sniper-like shooting could be the elixir they need. Lakers fans, take note: Your rivals just got deeper, deadlier, and a whole lot more dangerous from downtown. The Warriors are reloading, and the rest of the NBA better watch out.