It’s that time of the season when hardship signings and two-way contracts become a thing. The Golden State Warriors have made a move to cope with Stephen Curry getting sidelined recently as well as Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler’s on-and-off injuries, Al Horford’s injury management compounded with Jonathan Kuminga’s vague status and De’Anthony Melton’s unclear status. The Dubs’ saving grace is a young power forward named LJ Cryer. We saw him in the G-League and he showed promise. Just who is the Warriors’ newest acquisition?

Who Is LJ Cryer?

LJ Cryer went from a viral high school star to a promising collegiate player to waiting on the fringes of the NBA. He gained recognition as a forward in his student-athlete era. As a proficient scorer with an efficient 3-point shooting ability and a versatility with rebounding and steals, Cryer had games where he went viral on social media.

The University of Houston publication, Forward Times, regularly featured LJ for his scoring as a high school prospect on national scouting radar.

He plays as a point guard for the G-League team, the Santa Cruz Warriors (the reason for the switch is unclear). In the few G-League games he’s played, he averaged 24.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 5.1 triples and 3.1 turnovers per contest on 44/41/87 shooting splits.

His ability to play two positions could bring some depth to the Warriors roster at a time when Stephen Curry is sidelined for a quadriceps injury and Draymond Green is playing through a sprained foot. But it’s unlikely he’d play extended minutes right out the gate. He might offset the burden on the other players.

LJ Cryer’s Early Life & Education

Lionel Cryer Jr. was born on October 9, 2001 to Tamica and Lionel Cryer, Sr in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has a younger brother, Justin. Their dad is a football coach at a school. Their mom, a former volleyball attorney, is an attorney specializing in leases and contracts, and ran her own law firm for a while.

LJ was hardly three and his brother was an infant when Hurricane Katrina barrelled through NOLA in 2005. They lived in the Westwego neighborhood, one of the worst-hit areas. After losing their home, the family went to LJ’s maternal aunt in Katy, Texas.

What was meant to be a stopgap became a permanent residency in Texas. Their background as collegiate athletes helped Lionel Sr. and Tamica shape their sons into athletes. While LJ picked up a basketball, his brother chose football.

LJ Cryer’s Basketball Career Journey

When the Cryers moved to Texas, LJ graduated from Morton Ranch High School in Katy, not the school his dad was a linebacker coach at. He gained viral fame right from his teens after a 50-point outing in his senior year.

At school he averaged 34.2 points, 5.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game., earning District 19-6A MVP honors and showcasing himself as a versatile scorer. The four-star recruit got attention from LSU, Purdue, Houston and Colorado, but picked Baylor for college.

His team went to the championship in his freshman season but he’d have limited time and average 3.4 points. As he improved and was named to the Third Team All-Big 12, Cryer went into the 2025 draft. He didn’t get selected but joined the Warriors for the 20205 Summer League.

He was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract but waived right before the season began. The Warriors sent him to the G-League where he’s played seven games so far. After an impressive G-League start, he gets a chance to finally play in the big boy league now that he’s getting a two-way contract.

 LJ Cryer’s Nationality, Ethnicity & Cultural Roots

LJ Cryer is a regular American born in a normal American family. His parents were natives of Louisiana but have now set roots in Texas.

What is LJ Cryer’s Net Worth in 2025?

The 24-yaer-old’s already built an impressive NIL valuation at $769,000. That figure puts him among the top college basketball star in Texas, and maybe even nationally.

Cryer’s going to have an opportunity to build a net worth soon as he plays on a two-way contract, the salary and duration details of which are currently unknown. If he turns it into a standard contract, he’s going to boost his net worth in the future.