While the competition isn’t as fierce, winning a title at the collegiate level while playing a refined role to perfection is nothing to scoff at.
A former Baylor and Houston contributor did just that, helping the Bears secure a national championship in 2021.
The Golden State Warriors, who prioritize winning yearly, were clearly impressed with the 6-foot-1 guard’s championship pedigree and captivating skill set, as they signed him to a deal earlier this week.
“The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Marques Bolden, along with guards LJ Cryer and Taevion Kinsey,” the Dubs announced Monday. “Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.”
“Cryer, 23, played in 147 games (111 starts) over five collegiate seasons at Baylor (2020-23) and Houston (2023-25), averaging 13.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 28.5 minutes per game. Unselected in the 2025 NBA Draft, he was named First Team All-Big 12 in 2025 and was a member of Baylor’s 2021 National Championship team.”
Cryer only averaged 3.4 points per game during Baylor’s 2020-21 championship season, but stood out thanks to his relentless on-ball defense as an undersized guard.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
During Cryer’s following four seasons, though, Cryer’s offense came alive as his comfort level increased, enabling him to make more plays off the dribble and have the ball in his hands during crunch time.
The Katy, Texas native averaged 13.5 points per game as a sophomore, 15.0 as a junior, 15.5 as a senior, and 15.7 as a graduate student/super senior.
Cryer, who didn’t perform well with the Warriors during his lone NBA 2K26 Summer League outing (he finished with 5.0 points on 33.3% field goal shooting and 25.0% three-point shooting), must take advantage of his second impression with the organization if he wishes to have a future in the Bay.
More NBA: Warriors officially cut ties with former G League DPOY