Anthony Lamb played before a regular-season NBA record 68,323 fans recently at the Alamodome in San Antonio and is amember of the defending world champion Golden State Warriors. But he’s still appreciative of the time spent with the Rio GrandeValley Vipers.
“I have so much love for the people down in the RGV,” Lamb said. “I was so blessed to play for amazing groups of fans, so to gofrom there to the Warriors has been an unbelievable experience.”
Lamb spent two years in the G League with the Canton Charge and Vipers. He played 43 games and averaged 15.6 points, 7.5rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest. He concluded last season with the Vipers, winning a league championship and was namedAll-NBA G League third team.
Lamb played 24 games for the Houston Rockets (the Vipers’ NBA affiliate) and two games for the San Antonio Spurs (10-daycontract in January 2022). He played a second season of NBA Summer League for the Rockets in 2022 before agreeing to a two-way contract last October with Golden State.
“I didn’t really feel Houston was a good fit for me going forward,” Lamb said. “An opportunity to work out for the Warriors cameup over the summer and I played well, so they invited me back for training camp and then step-by-step got more opportunity.”
Lamb played four years at Vermont and was twice named America East Player of Year (2019 and 2020). One of the reasons hefeels he fits with the Warriors is because the organization wants players who use their brain and not just athletic ability.
“For me, to be able to think a game and make reads helps me a lot more and makes me feel a part of the team,” Lamb said.“Everybody is a part of the system because you have to make reads and good decisions, so that allows me to thrive and use mybest abilities.”
The 25-year-old feels he’s grown immensely this season, and that includes knowing what his teammates need from him on thecourt to make others better, especially with a duo considered to be two of the greatest shooting guards in basketball historyknown as the Splash Brothers.
“How can I make it easier for Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to get shots while continuing to improve on defense?” Lamb said.“We mix in a lot of different defenses, so being able to do that is important for us.”
Lamb continues to work on consistent shooting and being able to guard all five positions. He is familiar with hard work payingoff as he was named the G League’s Most Improved Player in 2021 after not being selected in the 2020 NBA Draft.
“I pride myself in being a utility guy and doing whatever we need,” Lamb said. “Still trying to learn and find out what that isbetween game-to-game.”
Lamb had a special night in early January, scoring an NBA career-high 26 points and equaling his career high in 3-pointers madewith five. He found that performance awesome and had the same description for his current head coach, Steve Kerr.
“Coach Kerr is one of the greatest people I have met so far,” Lamb said. “Our minds are very similar on how we view the gameshould be played and looking how I can learn more about his vision of the game to make sure I am on the same page aseveryone else.”
Kerr is in his ninth season as Golden State’s head coach and has won four NBA championships leading the Warriors. He feelsLamb is a a prototype modern NBA player.
“I love Anthony (Lamb), and he’s a versatile kind of jack-of-all-trades,” Kerr said. “Someone who shoots it well, embracesdefense and guarding difficult covers, boxes out, runs the floor and has a really high basketball IQ. We are lucky to have himbecause he has given us great minutes all year.”
Mahmoud Abdelfattah led the Vipers to the championship last season as head coach before being named an assistant with theHouston Rockets. Lamb says the 2022 G League Coach of the Year did things with the Vipers that directly translated to the NBA.
“The way he coaches, the way he presents a message and the way he works with his players,” Lamb said. “I learned so much fromhim, and he instilled so much confidence for me to come out of my shell. He’s willing to talk with you 1-on-1. That is pricelessto a player like me trying to move forward.”
As a two-way player, Lamb has yet to play a regular season game with the Warriors’ G League team in Santa Cruz, although hedid participate in preseason workouts and traveled to watch a game. Still, he’ll gladly play wherever Golden State needs him.
His goals right now are to earn a roster spot and compete in the playoffs. He’s committed to the word “earn.” He opted out of atrip to the White House when Golden State was honored as last season’s NBA champ since he was not then a member of theteam.
He decided to wait until he earns a championship himself.