Warriors: Ky Bowman making the case to earn a guaranteed NBA contract

Golden State Warriors rookie point guard Ky Bowman will see his two-way eligibility run out before long. But his play has been deserving of a permanent spot on the 15-man roster.

The Golden State Warriors haven’t had much to smile about this season. From their league-worst 3-13 record to their historic 48-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night, it’s been a forgetful year for Golden State.

But even in the darkest times, some players find a way to shine through.

One of those few bright spots has been rookie point guard Ky Bowman who has been forced into action as a result of countless injuries. And to his credit, Bowman is one of the few so-called ‘Baby Dubs’ who hasn’t seemed overwhelmed with the increased workload.

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The 22-year-old went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft and signed on with the Warriors in training camp. He managed to make the team on a two-way contract but obviously was expected to spend most of the season down in the G-League.

After all, a two-way contract only permits a player to remain with the NBA club for no more than 45 days. It was expected that Bowman would be given his opportunities with the Warriors in spurts while developing his skills down in Santa Cruz.

But few probably anticipated just how early he’d be given those opportunities and just how quickly he might run out of his NBA eligibility.

Bowman has spent the entire season with the Warriors and has played in all 16 games with the team. And he hasn’t been playing a small role either. Bowman is averaging just south of 20 minutes per game and has made four starts at point guard.

Injuries to the likes of Stephen Curry, D’Angelo Russell, and Jacob Evans have forced Bowman into the lineup and he’s made the most of his opportunity.

The scrappy guard is averaging 7.7 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game. He’s managed to shoot the ball at a very high clip as well connecting on over 41 percent of his three-point attempts while shooting an overall 47.6 percent from the field.

Bowman has been one of the few young Warriors players to shine in the increased spotlight. He’s been the polar opposite to first-round pick Jordan Poole who looks completely overwhelmed and unready for NBA action.

While Poole is simply a G-League player forced into NBA games, Bowman is a two-way player who belongs in the NBA.

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His impressive performances could force the Warriors to rethink their future plans once his eligibility expires in around about a month’s time.

Do the Warriors really want one of their most promising young players to sit in the G-League while he could be earning valuable NBA experience in a rebuilding year? The answer is likely no.

Now, the team still doesn’t have enough room under the hard cap to just flat out sign him without making a corresponding move. There are a few options, but the most likely would simply be to waive big man Marquese Chriss.

With Kevon Looney and Alen Smailagic set to return very soon, Chriss could become an expendable player. And while his redemption story is heartwarming, he likely doesn’t have as promising of a future with the Warriors as Bowman does.

Another option would be to trade one of their three minimum-contract players for a draft pick. Chriss is one of them and the other two are Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks.

Burks has been a revelation for the team this season but he might be the only player another team would be willing to trade for — unless they could find a suitor for the promising Chriss or the athletically-gifted Robinson.

Waiving Chriss seems like the most likely option, but don’t rule out the Warriors making a trade once the December 15th deadline for newly-signed players to be moved passes. And Burks represents a very intriguing target for contenders.

Either way, Bowman has made his case to remain on the team even once his 45 days expire.

And expect the Warriors to take full advantage of one of their only positives this season and keep him around long-term.