Golden State Warriors big man Marquese Chriss earned the final roster spot in training camp, and now there's a chance he becomes the Dubs' starting center next season, according to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. With the return of superstars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Chriss could be a nice fit with his athleticism and rim protection.
The Warriors initially brought Chriss to training camp thanks to injuries in the frontcourt. The big man won the final roster spot over Alfonzo McKinnie and showed flashes to start the season, but a roster crunch resulted in Chriss getting waived in early January. However, he was then brought back on a two-way contract before recently signing a two-year contract, with the second year non-guaranteed.
Chriss has come off the bench for most of the season, however, he has started every game since the Warriors traded Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks.
Chriss was a former lottery selection by the Phoenix Suns in 2016. In four seasons, Chriss has been on four different NBA teams and had been struggling to find a consistent role on a team.
Nonetheless, Chriss has found a way to resuscitate his career with Golden State. The 22-year-old is averaging 8.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 19.2 minutes per game. Chriss is also shooting 53.6 percent from the field and 75.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Last month, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gave his thoughts on Chriss during a postgame interview, via Anthony Slater of The Athletic:
“Marquese has been great on and off the floor,” said Kerr. He’s developed, got a fantastic attitude. I’m just excited that Marquese is going to be with us going forward.”
Next season, the Warriors could potentially have a starting lineup with Curry, Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Chriss. The Warriors could also have a lottery pick in this year's upcoming draft. The Warriors are the worst team in the NBA with a record of 12-43.
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