Former Patriots receiver Chris Hogan famously made the transition from college lacrosse standout to impactful NFL player. Did the Warriors just find the next cross-sport talent?
Golden State agreed to a two-way NBA deal with college lacrosse legend Pat Spencer on Wednesday, bringing the talented athlete one major step closer to achieving his NBA dream.
Spencer sacrificed plenty to get this opportunity, passing up on a lacrosse career to pursue basketball. Now, that chance could come with one of the NBA's most respected organizations.
Here's what you need to know about Spencer and his background on both the lacrosse field and the basketball court.
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Who is Pat Spencer?
Spencer was one of the nation's best lacrosse players during his time at Loyola Maryland. He's the all-time NCAA leader in assists with 231, and he's the Patriot League's all-time leader in points with 380.
Spencer won the 2019 Tewaarton Award, annually given to the nation's top college lacrosse player, and he was second all-time in points behind only Lyle Thompson when he finished his career.
Despite being selected first overall in the 2019 Premier Lacrosse League draft, Spencer decided to pursue basketball during his final year of collegiate eligibility. He joined Northwestern, starting all but two games in 2019-20 despite a lack of basketball experience at the collegiate level. Spencer averaged 10.4 points per game, shooting 43.6 percent in a forgettable eight-win season for the Wildcats.
Nevertheless, Spencer kept going and earned a G League opportunity with Wizards affiliate Capital City Go-Go in 2021 after a stint in Germany. He's spent the past two seasons on the Warriors' G League affiliate, breaking through this season with 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 43.1 percent from beyond the arc.
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A two-way contract allows the Warriors to shuttle Spencer back and forth between the NBA and the G League, potentially setting the stage for the 27-year-old to make his NBA debut.
Spencer's brother, Cam, is a starter on the No. 1-ranked UConn men's basketball team. Cam also began his career at Loyola Maryland, but he transferred to Rutgers in 2022 before joining the Huskies in '23. An excellent three-point shooter, Cam's game seems to be rubbing off on his older brother, with the '23-24 season potentially becoming a dream year for both siblings.
Pat Spencer lacrosse stats
Spencer remains one of the best statistical college lacrosse players in NCAA history, ranking first in assists with 231 and fourth in points with 380.
| Season | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Shot pct. |
| 2016 | 18 | 37 | 52 | 116 | 31.9% |
| 2017 | 16 | 28 | 55 | 81 | 34.6% |
| 2018 | 17 | 35 | 59 | 124 | 28.2% |
| 2019 | 17 | 49 | 65 | 138 | 35.5% |
| Total | 68 | 149 | 231 | 380 | 32.5% |