SAN FRANCISCO — D’Angelo Russell first met Marquese Chriss, a rookie at the time, in New Orleans during All-Star weekend. They hit it off right away, and kept in touch ever since.
Chriss, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and participant in the Rising Stars Challenge, accompanied his Phoenix Suns teammate Devin Booker to a promotional event Russell also attended. After years of scattered texts and meet-ups, Russell and Chriss are teammates with the Warriors. According to Russell, Chriss has grown a lot since they first met nearly four years ago.
“He’s coming along,” Russell said. “Especially with the structure that he’s received since training camp, he’s coming along. He is somebody I see as a late bloomer.”
In Golden State, Chriss warded off the reputation of being difficult to coach that followed him from Phoenix to Houston and Cleveland, and emerged as a reliable contributor. His energy, screen-setting, passing ability and improved defense helped him go from training camp invite to potential building block.
At 22, Chriss has begun to make use of the raw talent that once made him a lottery pick. Instead of trying to develop his 3-point shot, like he did in his previous stops, he focused on his strengths as an athletic big man with a strong feel for the game.
As Golden State’s backup center, his field goal percentage (48.5%), offensive rebounding (1.7) and assists (1.7) per game figures would all be career highs, while his 3-point attempts are down by two per game since his rookie season (2.7 to 0.7).
“Only 22, and he’s 6-10 with a 40-inch vertical, knows where he is, knows his spots and is finding his way,” guard Damion Lee said. “He’s been a hell of a force.”
After being invited to Warriors training camp in October, Chriss impressed coach Steve Kerr and the front office enough to earn the final spot on the regular-season roster. He beat out forward Alfonzo McKinnie who, only months before, had played key minutes in the playoffs.
Since then, the coaching staff has harnessed Chriss’ talents by using him as a pick-and-roll threat and dependable dribble hand-off facilitator. They ask him to use his athleticism to go after rebounds and blocks, instead of wasting it trying to space the floor as a stand-still shooter. On defense, he relies slightly less on his athleticism and more on executing the game plan.
“When we got him in training camp he was frequently out of position and now he’s found himself in better spots defensively,” Kerr said. “He’s picked up better habits.”
In addition to coaches, Chriss has leaned on the 23-year-old Russell for advice, calling him “a little big brother” since Russell is just more than a year older. “He holds me accountable. He’s honest with me.”
Chriss will often go to Russell’s home in San Francisco and discuss games they watch on NBA League Pass. This season, Russell helped Chriss improve his pick-and-roll game and positioning on defense.
On Friday the Warriors will play Chriss’ former team, the Suns, at Chase Center. However Chriss is not holding a grudge.
“I’ve been on three different teams since I’ve been (in the NBA) so I’d have a lot of revenge games to play if that’s how we’re looking at it,” Chriss said. “It’s another game for me to just have fun and show what I can do.”
Chriss, a Sacramento native, has emerged from a self-described “dark place,” and says he hasn’t felt this good, mentally or physically, in his previous three seasons. It helps he has a mentor in Russell, teammates to play video games with after practice and family a short drive away to complete a support system where he hopes can be a long-term home.
“I’m in a happy place right now,” Chriss said. “I feel comfortable where I’m at. I think the way I’ve been playing is making me feel better, and I’m enjoying myself while I’m here.”
