Omri Casspi showed his worth against the Wizards

Because of minor injuries, Casspi had played sparingly so far this season. But with Draymond Green’s ejection, he was a surprising star in the Warriors’ comeback win against the Wizards.

The Warriors’ signing of Omri Casspi for a minimum deal this summer was a steal. Despite his down year in 2016-2017 due to a hand injury, Casspi has shown crisp passing, long-range shooting, and defensive versatility at both forward positions during his NBA career.

But he hadn’t been able to show that so far this season. He sprained his ankle in the preseason, and re-tweaked it in the season opener, and subsequently fell out of the rotation.

But once Draymond Green got ejected in the second quarter of Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards, Casspi had to step up. And he did (as did Kevon Looney!).

In thirteen minutes, Casspi scored eight points, corralled three rebounds, and recorded one assist, steal and block. He was +17 and had a huge impact on the team’s offense.

Casspi hit a three, made some nice cuts, and moved the ball fantastically. He’s a great fit for the unselfish Warriors’ offense and seems to understand Kerr’s system well already. For somebody that has never been on a great team, he looks at home playing with the Warriors’ stars.

When asked after the game about his performance, Casspi said he was just happy to play. He knows he might not get playing time every game, but he’s ready to contribute when called upon.

If Casspi continues to impress, he’ll definitely get more minutes, and could leap guys like Nick Young and Patrick McCaw on the depth chart. He’s a savvy veteran who makes the right plays, spaces the floor, and tries hard. We’re lucky to have him.