SAN FRANCISCO – While the Golden State Warriors were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, there were still plenty of reasons to celebrate for Gui Santos and the Dubs.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Santos and the Warriors agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $15 million with a player option in 2028-29. The deal prevents Santos from hitting restricted free agency and adds a player who has become an integral part of coach Steve Kerr's rotation.
“Happy for Gui and happy for us,” Kerr said Saturday. "He's been such an important player for us, but also an incredible development story. Selected in the second round, and he spent his entire first year in Santa Cruz, and I think he was two-way at some point. But he's become one of our most important players, and we're all very excited for him."
Santos' contract extension is cause for celebration as it seals one of the Warriors' most successful development stories. Drafted by the Dubs out of Brazil with the 55th pick in 2022, Santos' progression from G League player to key rotational piece is a feather in the organization's cap from both a scouting angle and an internal ecosystem and development angle.
After Golden State's 129-101 blowout loss on Saturday, Santos reflected on all the work he's done to get to this moment.
“A lot of things go through my mind when you see your work being rewarded,” Santos said. "Since I've been here, through the G League and even before playing in Brazil, it was a lot of work. Whatever resources we have there, it's not a lot, and just making the league is a big, big deal. But even being able to get an extension with the best organization in the world, there aren't words that can describe this feeling."
Reaction of the Santos family and their comrades
When Santos called his parents to tell them the good news, they thought he was calling for a completely different reason.
"When I told them on the call, I was a little serious. 'Dad, Mom, I need to talk to you guys about something serious.' And they thought I got my fiancée pregnant,” Santos said, laughing with a big smile on his face.
“I was doing it on purpose [leading them on by saying I had] Something really serious to talk about. They know I had a good life. I wasn't doing anything wrong. This was the only thing that could happen. That was just a joke. They would say, okay, yes, but if it was news to them, they would have liked it too.
Gui Santos' family thought he was calling them for a different reason after today:
"I was like, Dad, Mom, I had to talk about something serious and they thought I got my fiancée pregnant."
Once they got the real news they were still very excited. ??? pic.twitter.com/6BAwYWlCuy
- Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) 1 March 2026
When someone joked that Santos could have kids with his new contract, he added another joke: "Now I can get some more Gui here!"
But once Santos was able to tell his parents the real news, they became very excited and emotional for him because they understood how hard he had to work to get there. It's a work ethic that Moses Moody got to see firsthand. After the game, Moody talked about watching Santos work his way into the rotation, noting that his path was not always clear.
"Seeing him come in, working for it — it didn't seem like there was a clear path to success," Moody said. "Seizing the opportunity, staying down. But not being overly ambitious, but still working every day, keeping my composure when he wasn't feeling good. Then it started feeling good. And it's good to see him be the same person. That's the conversation I had with him this morning."
cap implications
It's safe to say that Santos' three-year, $15 million extension is a home run for Golden State's cap books. The Warriors have acquired a versatile forward who can shoot, defend and rebound at a cap hit of $5 million per year, which is something any team in the league would want. And that's exactly the kind of salary level that's needed when their two best players, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, are making $55 million next year.
As far as their cap situation is concerned, Santos' deal gives the Warriors approximately $182 million in committed salary to nine players next season, including contracts with player options, i.e. Draymond Green, De'Anthony Melton and Al Horford. The luxury tax threshold next season is projected to be approximately $201.7 million, with the Warriors hoping to stay under that number to maintain their ability to use the non-taxpayer mid-tier exception. Being able to utilize the MLE will be key in their hopes of retaining Melton, who will likely command a number of contenders this season after recovering from his ACL injury.
Therefore, it was necessary to retain Santos at this number. This keeps them flexible, gives them space on their books, and provides a strong backup if Melton leaves.
Santos hopes to set example for Brazil
Santos understands the importance of his contract extension beyond just himself. When he was arriving, Santos talked about nine Brazilian basketball players in the NBA who he could look to as examples of what he hoped to become.
But as the only current NBA player born and raised in Brazil, Santos is the only example the next generation of Brazilian basketball players can look to when they turn on their TVs. It's a responsibility he takes seriously because he knows all eyes are on him.
Santos said, "I'm the only one here, so I'm the biggest example when you look at basketball and the NBA is the biggest level you can get to. Everyone is looking at me as an example." "For me, it's just trying to be a great person and show that work ethic is the most important thing. That's what got me into this position. ...
“Overall, be a good example for our kids in Brazil and show that if you work, you get what you deserve.”
Gui Santos was asked how his story could help the next generation of Brazilian basketball players make it into the league:
"For me it's just trying to be a great person and show that work ethic is the most important thing because that's what got me here."
Full soundbite here: pic.twitter.com/ANuhcQT1AB
- Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) 1 March 2026
Gui Santos will look to continue this hard work in a Warriors uniform this season and beyond, and look to make a splash in the postseason.
