The NBA Summer League is a chance for young players to showcase their talent and prove they deserve to be in the NBA.
Daekwon Plowden did just that with the Warriors this summer.
The free agent guard/forward agreed to a two-way contract with Golden State. Plowden's representative, Drew Kelso of One Motive Sports, was the first to report the news. He told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.The news was later confirmed by Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Plowden was a standout in Golden State's summer league, from the California Classic at Chase Center to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The Warriors' promising young duo of Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis missed the California Classic opener against the Miami Heat due to Team USA assignments, but their new recruits made up for it as Golden State stunned Miami, 105-66.
Plowden finished with 26 points in 23 minutes on 10-of-14 shooting, including 6-of-9 3-pointers. He scored 13 points in a six-minute stretch in the third quarter, including 11 straight points at one point.
The 6-foot-6 wing brought his dominating strength to Sin City.
Plowden is averaging 16.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, one steal and one block on 54.5% shooting from the field and 62.5% from deep in 24.8 minutes through Golden State's first two summer league games in Las Vegas.
Just a few days ago, Warriors summer league coach Anthony Vereen confidently explained why he thinks Plowden deserves a chance to make it in the NBA and compete at the highest level.
“[Plowden has] “He proved he deserves to be in the NBA,” Vereen told reporters. “I just embraced him.” [Santa Cruz Warriors general manager] I have Ryan Atkinson in my team, and these guys are really demonstrating that they are going to get to where they want to be, and he plays very hard and aggressively on both ends.
“He doesn't take a break from playing, and it's a joy to see him in a better position as a coach.”
After going undrafted in 2022, Plowden played the past two summer league seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder.
But third time's a charm for the 25-year-old, as he earned himself a spot on Golden State's final two-way roster for the 2024-25 NBA season.
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