What Happened to Patrick Andrew Spencer?
Pat Spencer is a remarkable American athlete who transitioned from being one of college lacrosse's all-time greats to an established professional basketball player in the NBA. After a decorated lacrosse career at Loyola University Maryland, where he won the Tewaaraton Award, Spencer pursued his basketball dream, playing at Northwestern before grinding through the G-League to earn a standard contract with the Golden State Warriors by February 2026.
Quick Answer
Pat Spencer is currently a professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. After an unparalleled college lacrosse career at Loyola University Maryland, he made a surprising pivot to basketball, playing one graduate year at Northwestern. He then spent several seasons in the NBA G League before signing a two-way contract with the Warriors in 2024, which was converted to a standard NBA contract in February 2026, solidifying his place in the league.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Born in Davidsonville, Maryland
Patrick Andrew Spencer was born in Davidsonville, Maryland.
Begins College Lacrosse Career at Loyola
Spencer began his collegiate lacrosse career at Loyola University Maryland, quickly becoming a standout player.
Wins Tewaaraton Award
Spencer was awarded the Tewaaraton Award, college lacrosse's highest honor, recognizing him as the nation's top player. He also set the NCAA career assists record.
Drafted 1st Overall in PLL Draft, Declines
Despite being selected as the first overall pick in the inaugural Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) draft, Spencer announced his intention to pursue a basketball career.
Plays College Basketball at Northwestern
Spencer enrolled at Northwestern University as a graduate transfer to play one season of NCAA Division I basketball, averaging 10.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.
Begins Professional Basketball Career in Germany
Spencer signed with Hamburg Towers of the German Basketball Bundesliga, marking his professional basketball debut.
Joins Capital City Go-Go (NBA G League)
He returned to the U.S. to play for the Capital City Go-Go, the NBA G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards, for the 2021-22 season.
Signs Exhibit 10 Contract with Golden State Warriors
Spencer signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Golden State Warriors, beginning his association with the NBA franchise.
Signs Two-Way Contract with Golden State Warriors
His strong play in the G League earned him a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors.
Makes NBA Debut
Spencer made his official NBA debut with the Golden State Warriors against the Denver Nuggets.
Two-Way Contract Converted to Standard NBA Contract
The Warriors converted Spencer's two-way contract to a standard NBA contract for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Signs New Two-Way Contract with Warriors
Spencer signed another two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.
First Career NBA Start
Spencer made his first career NBA start for the Golden State Warriors, recording 19 points and seven assists in a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Scores Career-High 20 Points
Spencer achieved a career-high 20 points in a 101-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Two-Way Contract Converted to Standard NBA Contract
The Golden State Warriors converted Spencer's two-way contract to a standard NBA contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, solidifying his roster spot.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Patrick Andrew Spencer, born July 4, 1996, first rose to prominence as an extraordinary lacrosse player at Loyola University Maryland from 2016 to 2019. During his four years, he set the NCAA men's lacrosse record for career assists with 231 and finished second all-time in Division I points with 380. His dominance earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Tewaaraton Award in 2019, the Lt. Raymond Enners Award as the national player of the year, and four consecutive Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Despite being selected first overall in the inaugural 2019 Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) draft, Spencer chose to forgo a professional lacrosse career to pursue his lifelong passion for basketball. He utilized his remaining college eligibility to play one season of NCAA Division I basketball at Northwestern University as a graduate transfer in 2019-2020. There, he averaged 10.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, showcasing his athleticism and court vision despite a four-year hiatus from competitive basketball.
Undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, Spencer embarked on a challenging professional basketball journey. He began overseas with the Hamburg Towers in Germany in 2021, then moved to the NBA G League, playing for the Capital City Go-Go (2021-2022) and the Santa Cruz Warriors (2022-2024). His persistent improvement and competitive drive caught the attention of the Golden State Warriors, who signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract in July 2022 and later a two-way contract in February 2024. He made his NBA debut on February 25, 2024.
The 2024-2025 season saw Spencer's role with the Warriors expand, with his two-way contract being converted to a standard NBA contract in March 2025. He continued to impress, leading to another two-way contract in September 2025 ahead of the 2025-2026 season. In December 2025, Spencer received significant playing time due to injuries to key players, including Stephen Curry, and made his first career NBA start on December 6, 2025, posting 19 points and seven assists. His strong performance continued into early 2026, highlighted by a career-high 20 points on February 5, 2026, against the Phoenix Suns. Just two days later, on February 7, 2026, his two-way contract was converted into a standard NBA contract for the remainder of the season, a testament to his remarkable journey and dedication. As of April 2026, Spencer is a regular contributor for the Golden State Warriors, occasionally stepping into starting roles, especially when other guards are sidelined.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Patrick Andrew Spencer made different choices?