Warriors officially cut ties with former G-League DPOY

Caleb Hightower

Warriors officially cut ties with former G-League DPOY image

Oct 30, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; T-shirts depicting a map of the bay area and the new bay bridge Golden State Warriors logo at Oracle Arena before the game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

All good things must come to an end in the NBA. 

With the Golden State Warriors signing Jonathan Kuminga, Al Horford, Seth Curry, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II to round out its roster, it’s safe to say that a 6-foot-8 champion forward and former Defensive Player of the Year’s short run with the Dubs is over.

Braxton Key earned a two-way contract with the Warriors this past March, and thanks to a solid first impression, the 28-year-old managed to turn that two-way deal into a standard contract in mid-April

However, Key, who won a G-League championship with the Delaware Blue Coats in 2023 and Defensive Player of the Year honors with the Memphis Hustle last season, wasn’t much of a factor for the Warriors to close the 2024-25 campaign.

The Virginia product averaged one point and 0.7 rebounds per game in three outings (while playing 3.7 minutes per game)

Key’s production remained the same in the postseason, as the Charlotte, North Carolina native only contributed 0.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in five contests. 

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Key signed a training camp deal with the Memphis Grizzlies last Wednesday, making it clear that he was well aware the Warriors were moving on from him after less than a full season.

If the 2022 G-League All-Defensive Team member can find his niche in the big leagues sooner rather than later, he’ll improve his odds of sticking around for the long haul.

More NBA: Knicks sign 6-foot-6 former Warriors guard to assist Jalen Brunson

Caleb Hightower

Caleb Hightower is a graduate of Hofstra University who can write about any sport, but he has a particular passion for basketball – specifically college and NBA. He has written for publications such as FanBuzz and Busting Brackets since graduating.