The Golden State Warriors have triggered shockwaves across the NBA landscape with a bold roster move announced Monday: the signing of Malevy Leons—a 6’9″ defensive menace and rising G League standout—to a two-way contract. In a corresponding decision that caught fans off guard, the team waived two-way forward Alex Toohey, ending his brief stint with the franchise before he ever logged a minute in a Warriors uniform.
Leons (pronounced MAL-uh-FY LAY-owns) arrives in the Bay riding a surge of momentum that has front offices around the league buzzing. Through 12 games with the Oklahoma City Blue this season—10 of them as a starter—the Dutch-born forward has posted eye-opening numbers: 14.8 points on 51.3% shooting, a scorching 43.8% from three, plus 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.75 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 34.5 minutes per game. Those are not the stats of a fringe prospect; they’re the marks of a player pushing hard for an NBA breakthrough.
And this isn’t a fluke. Across 59 career games with the Blue, Leons has cemented himself as one of the G League’s most reliable two-way forces, averaging 11.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.47 steals, and 1.03 blocks, all while showcasing the length, timing, and switchability that have become the modern NBA’s most valued defensive traits.
Despite going undrafted out of Bradley University in 2024, Leons built a collegiate résumé that scouts still talk about. He was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2022–23, 2023–24), earned All-MVC Second Team honors in 2022–23, and jumped to the First Team in 2023–24. The accolades reflected what coaches knew: he was a defensive problem, a disruptive force who could guard multiple positions while knocking down shots at an improving clip.
Leons even got a taste of NBA action last season, appearing in six games with the Oklahoma City Thunder, giving him a crucial foothold in the league before Golden State came calling.
The Warriors, battling inconsistency and hunting for fresh defensive versatility, appear to believe Leons can be more than just a two-way body. His size, mobility, and shooting touch give Golden State something they desperately need: a long, energetic forward who can space the floor, defend wings, and fill the gaps in a roster that has struggled to find stable rotation pieces beyond its stars.
But every addition comes with a cost.
To make room for Leons, the Warriors parted ways with Alex Toohey, the Australian forward drafted 52nd by Phoenix before being rerouted to Golden State in the NBA’s historic seven-team megatrade on July 6. Toohey played just two games with the Santa Cruz Warriors, averaging 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 19.6 minutes. Despite coming in with intrigue and international upside, he never touched the floor for Golden State’s main roster—an abrupt end to a short-lived chapter.
The move signals something unmistakable: the Warriors are in urgency mode. They aren’t waiting around for prospects to develop at a leisurely pace. They want impact, energy, and players who can contribute now.
And in Malevy Leons, they might have just grabbed one of the G League’s most intriguing and overlooked gems.
All eyes now turn to Steve Kerr and his coaching staff. How quickly will Leons be integrated? How much potential do the Warriors see in him? And could this surprising two-way signing become the next breakout story in Golden State?
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