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Warriors Make Roster Move Before Clippers Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Apr 13, 2025 1:22 PM ET

The Golden State Warriors are facing extreme pressure in their final game of the NBA regular season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

For the fifth-place Clippers and sixth-place Warriors, the game represents a win-and-in scenario for a top-six seed and an automatic berth to the Western Conference playoffs.

The loser risks a seventh-place finish, which would mean a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament and a harder path into the playoffs.

Just hours before the game on Sunday, Golden State proved it has an eye on the postseason regardless of the outcome of the Clippers game by making a major move to fill the 15th and final spot on its roster ahead of the NBA playoffs.

Per NBC Sports Bay Area , the Warriors converted 6-foot-8 center/power forward Braxton Key from his two-way contract to a standard NBA contract, filling its 15th and final roster spot in time to make Key eligible for the NBA playoffs.

The Warriors had considered signing a player from outside the organization before the playoffs, but settled on Key instead.

The 28-year-old won NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year for his play with the Santa Cruz Warriors and San Diego Clippers — which also drew comparisons to the Warriors' eight-time NBA all-defense honoree Draymond Green.

The Key to elite defense

Braxton Key has been named the 2024-25 @Kia @nbagleague Defensive Player of the Year pic.twitter.com/7t2z9rS35U
— Santa Cruz Warriors (@GLeagueWarriors) April 2, 2025

Between San Diego and Santa Cruz, Key played 33 games in the G League this season. He averaged 18.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

"This dude’s the best player we’ve seen in the G League this year,” Santa Cruz coach Nicholas Kerr said on March 9. “He’s a monster defender. He can get to the rim, and he’s made shots for us so far. You can tell that he’s a gamer, too.”

Braxton Key is a baller.

Absolutely stuffed the stat sheet in only his second game with the Santa Cruz Warriors.

25pts
14rbs
5asts
7stls
3blks
8/12 FG
2/2 3PT
4/7 FT

2 blocks short of a 5x5.
10 steals + 4 blocks in 2 games combined pic.twitter.com/kdXjtMKKmB
— GSWCBA (@gswcba) March 8, 2025

Key showed a penchant for showing up in big moments. The same day the Warriors' affiliate signed him from the Clippers' affiliate, he dropped 30 points and 13 rebounds in his debut.

Whatever seed Golden State ends up with Sunday night, head coach Steve Kerr will sleep better knowing the final roster spot is filled with a player who showed an ability to affect games at the NBA level.

"Braxton looks like a real NBA defender,” Kerr said of Key. “He’s quick and athletic, and I think he’s another guy who could step in and play some minutes for us if needed.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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