“The Golden State Warriors have converted the two-way contract of forward/center Usman Garuba (oose-mon gah-ROO-bah) to a standard NBA contract, the team announced today. Garuba, 22, has appeared in five games with Golden State this season, tallying two points, three rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 12 minutes of action. He appeared in 35 games with Golden State’s G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, tallying averages of 12.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals in 25.0 minutes per game. Originally selected by the Houston Rockets with the 23d overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, Garuba owns career NBA averages of 2.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 11.8 minutes in 104 games (three starts) over three seasons with the Warriors and Rockets. Prior to the NBA, the Madrid, Spain, native spent three seasons with Real Madrid (2018-21) in Spain’s top league, Liga ACB. Garuba has competed internationally for his home country in both the 2020 Olympic Games and the 2023 FIBA World Cup.”

This fills Golden State’s final roster spot that had been vacant for a while. The Warriors will need to defeat the Sacramento Kings in their first play-in game, and then defeat the loser of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans play-in game in order to make the playoffs.