https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/I-m-never-satisfied-Moses-Moody-had-his-16827416.php

As Santa Cruz Warriors head coach Seth Cooper watched his team’s next opponent, the Birmingham Squadron, face the Agua Caliente Clippers at Legacy Arena on Monday night, he often asked to borrow assistant coach Nick Kerr’s iPhone.

On the screen was a live feed of Golden State’s game in Houston, where rookie Moses Moody — Santa Cruz’s leading scorer this season — started at shooting guard for the big club. What Cooper saw was the same savvy wing who has limited mistakes, knocked down shots at a high clip and played versatile defense in the G League. Only instead of facing pro basketball’s striving class, Moody was playing millionaire NBA players.

That 11-point performance against the Rockets, combined with the next night’s 20-point, seven-rebound gem in San Antonio, reinforced what Cooper already knew: Moody is a rotation-caliber player in the NBA, even if a loaded Golden State roster makes meaningful minutes rare. His knack for executing a game plan, giving consistent effort and screening for shooters hints at a future filled with high-pressure situations.

But in the meantime, Moody must spend many days toiling against G Leaguers in relative anonymity. His is a split existence: the yo-yoing between one of the NBA’s best teams and its lower-level affiliate. Moody, who turns 20 on May 31, has been assigned to Santa Cruz seven times in the past three months.

Just in case he must travel at a moment’s notice, he keeps a suitcase packed with the essentials. That came in handy Sunday night when, after posting 27 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals in Santa Cruz’s win in Austin, Moody rode 2 ½ hours in a team-provided car to rejoin Golden State in Houston.

During video study the next morning, he learned that, as a reward for his strong play in practice and the G League, he would start that night against the Rockets. This was a critical opportunity. Though Moody impressed head coach Steve Kerr’s staff with his professionalism and diligence, he had yet to enjoy a breakthrough game in the NBA.

Sensing some nerves from his teenage teammate, Stephen Curry pulled Moody aside to stress the importance of staying even-keeled. Curry’s message was succinct: Every NBA player must navigate highs and lows; what separates those who last from those who wash out is how they handle adversity.

“It has been an up-and-down path so far,” said Moody, who has averaged 27.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals in nine games with Santa Cruz this season. “But right now, it feels like the work is paying off. I feel good. I’m doing all this stuff for a reason.”

Who: Sacramento (18-34 through Tuesday) at Warriors (39-13)

When: 7 p.m.

TV/Radio: NBCSBA/95.7

Hours after his conversation with Curry, Moody hit three 3-pointers and played solid team defense to help the Warriors pull away for a convincing win over the Rockets at Toyota Center. Kerr was encouraged enough to start Moody again the next night in San Antonio. With Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson and several other key players sidelined by injuries, Moody was free to log 37 minutes and get up shots at will.

Six of his 10 3-point tries went in, putting him one shy of Curry for the franchise’s rookie record. Perhaps just as notable, however, was Moody’s basketball IQ and effort. On defense, Moody often lurked near a play, monitoring it and, without over-committing, maintaining the proper stance and positioning to force an ill-advised shot.

Little more than three months removed from his NBA debut, he exhibited a keen grasp of the Warriors’ system as he set screens, moved off the ball and made the extra pass. Moody’s most memorable sequence came when, with less than 30 seconds left and Golden State down one, he dived for a loose ball.

With four San Antonio players swarming him, he bounced a pass to Damion Lee, who hit Jordan Poole for a corner 3-pointer. That hustle play epitomized why the Warriors’ front office was thrilled to take Moody with the No. 14 pick in July’s draft: In addition to playing with a poise beyond his years, he tends to outwork the opponent.

“He just has a knack for the game,” Kerr said. “He understands where to be, how to move the ball, how to get to open spaces.”

Added Cooper: “When you look at his skill level, combined with his effort, it’s clear that he’s a player who can help any team.. It’ll only be a matter of time before he shows that all the time in the NBA.”

Three weeks ago, after watching Moody score 37 points in Santa Cruz’s win over the Memphis Hustle, Golden State assistant coach Mike Brown added a clip of Moody to the big club’s video study. In it, Moody was clearly fouled on a drive to the rim. When the referees failed to blow their whistles, he didn’t complain, instead popping to his feet and racing back on defense.

Those types of reactions to no-calls were something Kerr’s staff had been hammering in practice. And though Moody listened, he wasn’t one of the players whom coaches were trying to address. Moving onto the next play has long come easily to him.

Now forced to make regular stops in the G League, Moody prefers to think big picture rather than bemoan his circumstances. Things could be far worse. Many of his Santa Cruz teammates are a half-decade or so older, earning about $32,000 a year as they scrap for their first NBA call-up.

Moody, as the last pick in the lottery, is set to earn up to $17 million over the next four seasons.

“When I am down in the G League, it does make me a lot more appreciative of what I’ve been blessed with,” Moody said. “Having an NBA contract. Being more secure.

“Of course, we all take our own journeys. And even though I’m content right now, I’m never satisfied.”