Ever the basketball enthusiast, Draymond Green knew Charles Bassey was a prized recruit in 2018 and a three-year standout at Western Kentucky. But it wasn’t until they became teammates with the Golden State Warriors this week that Green realized exactly how well Bassey catches a ball in traffic.
“He’s got really good hands,” Green said Tuesday night at Chase Center, 20 or so minutes after Bassey capped the fourth double-double of his five-year career. “That’s the one thing that’s kind of stood out most to me. He’s got really, really good hands. I think he’s getting more and more comfortable.”
Signed to the standard roster (for the prorated minimum) this week after 17 games with their G League outfit and 10-day deals with the Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, Bassey as the lone healthy big man for the Warriors is impressing with his strength, length and touch. With 14 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings, he played to a plus-nine in 27 minutes of Golden State’s 110-105 victory.
In his 10-minute team debut Sunday in a one-point loss to the Houston Rockets at Chase Center, Bassey had five points, four rebounds and two blocks — flashing his bounce and rim protection.
His archetype is a unique one for the Warriors.
“He’s a really impressive player,” head coach Steve Kerr said Tuesday night. “Just the presence in the paint and ability to finish and score in there. He blocks shots and rebounds. Really active, good player.”
At 6-foot-10 and a former five-star high school recruit after moving from Nigeria, Bassey’s strengths differ altogether from those within Golden State’s stable of centers. Kristaps Porzingis (36.5% career 3-point shooting), Al Horford (37.6%) and Quinten Post (36.4%) space offensively as shooting threats. Bassey spaces as a vertical threat — rolling to the basket with force and finesse.
Take Bassey’s first bucket with the Warriors, a pick-and-roll dunk from Stephen Curry, who drew two defenders as he bent around a ball screen, feeding Bassey for an uncontested two. Five-out spacing — with five capable 3-point shooters — is one way to draw defensive rotations but four-out spacing with a rim-running big man can collapse or punish a defense and open an offense.
Bassey’s second basket Sunday came by way of slipping a screen, catching a pass from Brandin Podziemski and pump faking into a feathery finish. On Tuesday night against the Kings, he rolled to the basket for layups, dunks and floaters he finished with touch and conviction.
“Very live body,” Green continued. “He’s a really good shot blocker. Rebounds the ball well. Lob threat. Great finisher around the rim.”
Drafted 53rd in 2021, Bassey hasn’t stuck on an NBA roster, moonlighting for the 76ers, Grizzlies, Celtics and San Antonio Spurs. With 123 games (11 minutes per game) to his name at 25 and strengths the Warriors have lacked in their frontcourt, Bassey could serve as cost-effective depth for a team without a big man under guaranteed contract next season. Porzingis becomes an unrestricted free agent, Horford has a player option and Post is a restricted free agent.
In 17 games this year for Santa Cruz, Bassey averaged 20.4 points, 12 rebounds and 2.2 blocks as he found a fit. He said Sunday with Golden State that “everything is the same” with his role “so it was good being out there. I was already up to speed. So, it was great.”
Added Bassey about his messaging from Golden State’s coaches: “Keep doing what you’re doing that got you here. … Just keep going, Keep rebounding. Keep running the floor. Keep blocking shots. Do what you do best.”
