“Everybody wants to play 48 minutes,” McAdoo said. “But when it’s your third year and you’re on the best team in the N.B.A., it’s tough to complain.”

When the Warriors faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals last season, McAdoo did not make an appearance in the series. But he was involved. In addition to joining the team at practice, he played two-on-two with the team’s interns and did extra conditioning work with Michael Irr, the Warriors’ performance coach and therapist.

“It was about staying mentally engaged,” McAdoo said. “Nobody ever told me, ‘Hey, you need to be in the gym doing this.’ It was on me.”

McAdoo remained inactive for the first three games of the N.B.A. finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. But after Game 3, Kerr delivered some news: McAdoo might dress for Game 4. Sure enough, in search of energy, Kerr summoned McAdoo from the bench in the second quarter. The basketball-watching world, which included McAdoo’s wife, was stunned.

“He’s guarding LeBron!” she recalled saying.

McAdoo finished with 2 points, a rebound and an assist in 7 minutes. As the series wore on, he receded from public view.

Ahead of the Warriors’ game against the Cavaliers last Monday, McAdoo arrived at Oracle Arena four hours before the opening tip. Workers were still cleaning the backboards when he took the court for another workout with the Breakfast Club. He sidestepped cheerleaders and dodged electrical technicians.

Later, after player introductions, McAdoo made a rare appearance in the spotlight. He grabbed a microphone and made a short speech to commemorate the holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. McAdoo’s teammates congratulated him as he made his way to the bench.