SAN JOSE -- The last time the Warriors signed a globetrotting American well beyond his 25th birthday still hoping for an NBA career, it turned out quite well.
Mario Elie was 27 years old and had played in Ireland, Portugal and Argentina. Once he got to the Warriors, it was NBA all the way. He played 10 seasons and was a vital member of two championship teams in Houston.
Alfonzo McKinnie, 26, hopes to blaze a similar trail.
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Entering training camp 18 days ago facing long odds and make the roster, McKinnie on Friday signed a partially guaranteed contract with the Warriors.
This transaction doesn’t completely close the door on the possibility of Pat McCaw returning, but the opening is barely a sliver.
McKinnie saw an opportunity and dived after it.
“I’ve been on the bottom of the totem pole, being a guy that nobody knows and nobody had expectations for,” McKinnie told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I’ve worked my way into different situations, got more eyes on me, and been able to produce in front of those people.
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“I’m here today. And I’m grateful for everything.”
McKinnie, a 6-foot-8 wing, began his collegiate career at Eastern Illinois before transferring to Wisconsin-Green Bay for his final two years. His professional journey began with the East Side Pirates in, of all places, Luxembourg, a tiny European country with a smaller population than San Francisco.
A year later, in May 2016, McKinnie landed in Hermasillo, Mexico, about 250 miles south of Tucson, Az. He was an integral member of the Rayos de Hermasillo that won the regular-season CIBACOPA championship.
“It’s helped me out a lot,” McKinnie said of his travels. “It helped me learn how to be a leader. I was doing a lot of stuff that I wasn’t used to, so it helped me out in that way. It helped off the court, too, just being by myself on the other side of the world. I had to adjust to that.
“I’ve been in a lot of different situations, and because of that I feel I’m prepared for anything. All those things helped me get to this point.”
McKinnie played a total of 56 minutes through the first four preseason games, compiling 26 points (12-of-22 from the floor), 18 rebounds and two steals. He also provided a solid defensive presence.
He probably won’t get a lot of playing time, but he earned his way onto the roster.
“He clearly stood out amongst the group,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We like his defensive versatility. He’s very athletic. The other night was a good example of how fast the game is these days; everybody was amped up in Las Vegas, LeBron’s out there and it’s national TV. You could feel the atmosphere. That’s more like the regular season. Even in that atmosphere, where everybody was pumped up, Alfonzo’s athleticism jumped off the page.”
Also notable was his composure. No matter how chaotic it got, McKinnie always was under control.
Which brings us back to Elie. He had played under such trying conditions, before such wild crowds, that nothing fazed him when he reached the NBA. He developed other parts of his game, particularly a 3-point shot that became reliable in the clutch, but there never was a question about his mental toughness.
McKinnie seems to have that same characteristic.
“His 3-point shot is pretty good; it can get better,” Kerr said. “But we really like him. He’s a great kid. His story is fantastic. He’s worked hard to get here.
“I like when a guy fights and scraps and claws. His teammates like him, we like him and we think he has some versatility. We’re excited for him.”
