"That damn basketball dream has always haunted me."

Starting for the first time in his career, becoming the team's leading scorer, and scoring 12 points in the last quarter to lead the team to victory—this marked the peak moment in 29-year-old Spence's basketball career so far.

Without Curry, Butler, Draymond, or Horford, the Warriors overcame the Cavaliers on their home court, completing a feat that appeared unachievable. The Warriors dominated the Cavaliers almost the entire game, while the Cavaliers struggled with poor form. The Warriors showed great determination, and at critical moments, they found their leader.

In the final quarter, the Cavaliers launched a comeback, narrowing the gap to just three points. At that moment, Spence stepped up, hitting two 45-degree angle three-pointers, scoring two baskets under the rim, plus two clutch free throws to seal the win, totaling 12 points in the last quarter. He shot 7-for-12 overall, scoring a team-high 19 points along with 7 assists.

During Curry's absence, Spence's breakout performances were like a timely boost for the Warriors. Against the Thunder, he scored 17 points and dished out 6 assists, playing a key role in closing the gap; in a narrow loss to the 76ers, Spence again scored 12 points in the final quarter, nearly becoming the Warriors’ hero.

However, his explosive final quarter in that game earned Spence his first NBA start. This 27-year-old, who debuted in the NBA late and still lacks a formal contract, shone brightly that night. Over the last three games, Spence has averaged 17.3 points and 5.6 assists per game.

Unlike some players on two-way contracts who play tentatively, Spence exudes confidence every moment on the court, carrying a commanding presence. When given the ball, he dares to shoot, although fans have previously criticized him for seeming like he "doesn’t know his place."

Spence’s confidence doesn’t stem from arrogance but from his success in another sport where he had already made a name for himself. Had he not pursued basketball, he might have competed as one of the greatest ever in lacrosse.

Many people are unfamiliar with lacrosse, but it has been played for centuries in North America. Simply put, it involves using a stick with a net to shoot a ball into the opponent’s goal. In 2023, the International Olympic Committee included lacrosse as an official sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and this year’s World Games in Chengdu also featured lacrosse.

Spence played both basketball and lacrosse from a young age. Though he preferred basketball, he showed incredible talent in lacrosse. After high school, with no basketball scholarships on offer, he accepted a lacrosse scholarship to Loyola University.

As he grew taller, Spence considered switching to basketball, but out of loyalty to Loyola, he competed in lacrosse throughout his four years there. He excelled so much that as a freshman he earned both Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors.

During his four-year NCAA career, Spence became the all-time assists leader in Division I lacrosse and ranked second in total points. He swept virtually every award in lacrosse and had a very bright future ahead.

In 2019, Spence was selected first overall by the Utah Archers in the professional lacrosse league’s college draft. If all had gone smoothly, he would have shone brilliantly in lacrosse and had a chance to become one of the greatest in history.

But Spence made a decision that shocked everyone: he chose not to sign with the team and instead transferred to Northwestern University to play basketball in his final collegiate season. Spence later said, "True passion demands you chase it with everything you’ve got."

In his fifth year at Northwestern, Spence averaged 10.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, shooting 43.6% overall and 23.5% from three-point range. However, the team only managed 8 wins against 23 losses. As a 24-year-old older rookie, Spence was determined to keep pushing upward but went undrafted even in the G League draft.

In fact, in 2020, some teams were still willing to pick Spence with the sixth overall pick in the professional lacrosse draft. Yet Spence did not pursue that path, nor did he get a chance to play in the G League; instead, he went to play professionally in Germany.

In October 2021, Spence signed with the Washington Wizards’ G League affiliate; in August 2022, he secured an Exhibit 10 contract with the Warriors and subsequently played for their G League team.

It wasn’t until February 2024 that Spence earned a two-way contract with the Warriors. At 27, he finally made his NBA debut. In March, his two-way deal was converted to a standard contract, and after Curry’s injury in the playoffs, he played as the Warriors’ backup point guard.

However, during this offseason, Spence still did not receive a full contract from the Warriors and returned on another two-way deal. Whenever Curry is absent, Spence consistently performs well in limited minutes. At 29 years old and with only 61 NBA games played, this rookie fully deserves a standard contract.

When you have already achieved greatness in one field and then choose to give up all past glory to start over, it takes immense courage. Spence’s love for basketball helped him overcome all obstacles. Draymond Green said, "He may not look it, but Spence is an outstanding basketball player and one of the toughest guys on our team."

In college, he dominated the lacrosse field but said, "That damn basketball dream has always tormented me." He completed his studies and fulfilled his commitment to Loyola University, then plunged headfirst into the unknown depths of basketball without looking back.

Coach Kerr said today, "Watching a player who has had to fight for everything finally seize his moment—and not just grasp it but hold onto it tightly—feels incredible."

Now he stands here, proving he belongs in the NBA. No journey is ever wasted; when you make up your mind, every step forward counts.