Stephen Curry Discusses Pat Spencer Thriving While He Missed Games

The Golden State Warriors could have been in a really bad spot. Stephen Curry has missed their last five games with injury, and the Warriors were well-positioned for a free-fall. Instead, the Warriors rallied behind their bench and went 3–2 over the five games without Curry. 

Much of this success had to do with the excellent play of Pat Spencer. Spencer, who is usually stuck at the end of the Warriors’ bench, had the opportunity while Curry was out to show what he could do. 

Curry discussed Spencer’s play and general attitude that makes him so dangerous. 

"I remember the first day I was playing pickup with him, he was talking trash to me. Like three years ago, right before training camp. So it's nothing new, it's just great for the world to see it. It's amazing to watch. We've seen it over the summers, in practice, when he's been out there in short spurts. He just has a presence about him that he just knows the game. He plays with 120 percent confidence every time he's out there. And as a kind of playmaker role, it was cool to see him kind of adapt to what we needed pretty much overnight. And I think it'll only help us as we keep moving forward."

With Curry set to rejoin the Warriors lineup this Friday, Spencer will likely be moved back to a deep bench role. However, both Kerr and Curry seem to think that Spencer has earned himself some more minutes, even with Curry back in the lineup. 

We will see whether Spencer’s short stint as a featured player remains short or if he can find a way to thrive even with Curry in the lineup.