Lindy Waters III finding ways to contribute in Golden State

A former cowboy finds his role in his new team.

After spending the first three seasons of his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Lindy Waters III was traded to Golden State in the offseason. With the Thunder, Waters had inconsistent playing time at best and little opportunity to see the field as the team developed into one of the league’s best.

However, the Warriors needed strong players to come off the bench and provide scoring and shooting. Waters was a perfect fit there at the start of the 2024/25 season.

In his first three games with the Warriors, Waters shot 5 of 6 from the floor, scoring 14 points. Although he played well, he only saw about 12 minutes of action, mostly in garbage time.

On Tuesday, Stephen Curry missed the Warriors’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans after suffering an ankle injury in the previous game. His absence opened the door to an opportunity for Waters, and he took advantage of his role.

Waters came off the bench and played 30 minutes, the second most on the Warriors. He finished the game with 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and one steal while shooting 8 of 13 from the floor. He also showed off his outside shooting talent, shooting 3 of 7 from distance.

The Warriors outscored the Pelicans by a game-high 26 points while Waters was on the floor. He was also a pesky defender all night long. If Waters can continue his impressive play, he should have no trouble finding a regular spot in the rotation.

At 27, Waters is in a contract year and a pivotal season in his NBA career. As long as he can continue to have nights like these and be a consistent player for the Warriors, the former Cowboy should remain in the league for many years to come.

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