May 13, Juan Toscano Anderson has signed a partially guaranteed contract over several years with the Warriors.
Yet the confirmation that “JTA” was an NBA-level player came 3 months earlier:
“I knew during training camp that I could play in this league, that I could be part of the team, but I didn’t know what the team wanted or what the team needed,” said Toscano- Anderson to Logan Murdock and Raja Bell of “The Ringer” this week on the podcast “The Real Ones”. “I didn’t really know which direction they were going. They cut me off and they gave me two-way contract. Then I had a chance in February, like February 2 or 3, we played the Boston Celtics and that was the first game I really got to play. And I played well, I played about 10 games, and after that I was like, ‘Dude, I belong in this league, I can play with these guys’.
“It was the first time that I felt really involved. Steve [Kerr] really gave me my chance. At the same time we had a few injuries, I believe Kevon Looney was injured at that time, so the team needed me. I had an opportunity. I was able to find myself and find a place in this team, in this rotation, to see myself as a vital part of the success of this team. I said to myself ‘I’m in the best league in the world, I belong to the best league in the world’ “
Against the Celtics, he compiled 16 points at 6/9 shooting including a perfect 3/3 behind the arc. Prior to this match, JTA had not taken part in the last 13 matches. After this game, he started the next 10 in the starting 5 (7.7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 26.3 minutes over this period)
“I felt that as the season progressed, I had more and more confidence in myself… not only as a player, but also as a person,” said Toscano- Anderson. “I really started to solidify. I don’t necessarily say as a leader because the hierarchy is clearly established in the team, but I felt that I was able to be a link between the young people and the leaders. I have a very good relationship with the veterans and the elders, but I am also always hanging out with the young people. So I felt like I was becoming this binder between the two age groups. ”
Despite being on 2-way contract for the majority of the season, JTA has become an important part of the Warriors’ run to advance to the Playoffs. It became the base of the 2nd unit with Jordan Poole and Mychal Mulder over the last month of competition.
For the first time in his career, JTA will not have to prove anything this summer, during the training camp. He has already proven this year that he is an NBA caliber player. The Warriors therefore rightly rewarded him. Even if, his contract is not guaranteed, he is not guaranteed to stay in the team.
Via NBC Sports
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