The Lone Brazilian Seed in the NBA World, From the 55th Pick to a $15 Million Contract

The Warriors' recent situation can be described with one word: "bleak." Not only are their two core players Butler and Curry injured, but even some key rotation players have suffered varying degrees of injuries. This forced the Warriors to scrape together just 10 available players for today's game against the Knicks.

In today's lineup, the only first-round pick was Podziemski. Richard, Santos, and Post were second-round picks. The remaining players—Payton Jr., Spencer, two-way contract player Lyons, Clare, Nate Williams, and even the 10-day contract player Yurtseven—were all undrafted.

The Warriors' current injured players' salaries total $193 million, accounting for 93.11% of the team's payroll, a situation even worse than the Philadelphia 76ers. Yet, this team composed of one first-round pick, three second-round picks, and six undrafted players once led the Knicks by 21 points at Madison Square Garden today.

The Warriors started the game well. Although their lead was gradually eroded by the Knicks later, and their decision-making in the final moments wasn't ideal, for such a third-string Warriors squad, performing like this is already quite commendable.

The standout performer was undoubtedly the Warriors' Brazilian forward Santos. He shot 7 out of 12, including 2 out of 4 from three-point range, scoring 20 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. He showcased excellent rebounding ability and facilitated plays for teammates. In the final offensive play, his pass to Post would have resulted in a near-open three-pointer if Post had caught it, unfortunately he didn't.

During the Warriors' extensive injury period, Santos, who seized the opportunity, gradually emerged. Recently, he signed a three-year, $15 million extension with the Warriors, with the third year being a player option. In the last five games, Santos averaged 18.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.

Clearly, Santos is another second-round pick developed by the Warriors. Over recent years, the Warriors' ability to cultivate first-round picks has been average, but they have produced quite a few successful second-round picks. Santos was the 55th pick in 2022. In 2023, they selected backup center TJD, who played significant rotation minutes; in 2024, they picked Post, a shooting-oriented center; last year, they drafted Will Richard, who has had a 30-point game this season.

The name Santos clearly originates from South America, and he is essentially the lone Brazilian representative in the NBA today. Born in Brazil in 2002, Santos' father was a basketball player. As a child, Santos often traveled nationwide with his father. One memorable scene where the entire crowd shouted his father's name left a deep impression on young Santos, inspiring him to become a basketball player himself.

In 2019, Santos gained attention during the South American U17 Championship, leading Brazil to the championship and scoring 27 points in the final against Argentina. He entered Brazil's top league at 16, became the youngest player on the national team at 18, averaging 8.3 points, not merely a peripheral role.

In the 2020-21 season, Santos began attracting attention from NBA scouts. In the 2021-22 season, he averaged 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, showing continuous improvement and deciding to officially enter the draft. He possesses NBA-level forward size, can handle the ball in pick-and-roll situations, create scoring opportunities, and deliver assists.

Santos was very fortunate. Although he was selected only at the 55th pick, the team that chose him was the Golden State Warriors, known for player development. His predecessor Barbosa strongly recommended Santos to the Warriors before leaving, which facilitated Santos' connection with the team.

Initially, Santos had no opportunity to play in the NBA, as there were too many forwards ahead of him. His entire rookie season was spent in the developmental league, without even making his NBA debut.

It was only in November 2023 that Santos made his career debut; only in his third season did he formally enter the Warriors' rotation. Last season, Santos averaged 4.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists—numbers not eye-catching—but he was the player with the highest net efficiency among Warriors who played over 500 minutes, making a positive impact whenever on the court.

Before entering the NBA, he was a ball-handling forward in the Brazilian league. In the NBA, Santos didn't have as many ball-handling opportunities, starting instead by focusing on rebounding. He gradually increased his weight, transitioned to playing inside, and began earning Coach Kerr's trust, gaining playing time.

Kerr said: "Whenever he's on the court, you feel his presence. Because of this energy and passion for the game, I feel confident putting him in any game, at any moment."

Of course, Santos' most standout qualities are his excellent passing awareness and vision. He plays very team-oriented and selflessly, perfectly fitting the Warriors' team culture. This ultimately led the Warriors to offer him a three-year long-term contract, even adding a player option in the third year, expressing their trust in Santos.

That 20-year-old boy who came to America with dreams, after enduring the hardship of an entire rookie season without NBA play, has now finally established his footing in the NBA.