The Golden State Warriors are one of the most famous and successful teams in NBA history, winning 7 NBA championships and featuring some of the greatest players of all time. Of course, the seventh NBA championship was won after the 2022 Finals, when the Warriors faced the rising Boston Celtics. Players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green have entered NBA lore on their way to their fourth championships, and each of them is clearly one of the best players in Warriors history. one. But where do they rank among the franchise's 10 best prospects?
It's time to look back at history and find out who the Golden State Warriors' top draft picks were. Starting in the 1950s and continuing through the late 2000s and early 2010s, there are some excellent franchise options. Modern-day Warriors stars immediately come to mind, but some names may have been forgotten. Without further ado, here are the 10 best rookies in Golden State Warriors history.
10. Tim Hardaway- No. 14 pick (1989 NBA Draft)
Golden State Warriors data: 19.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.2 rebounds per game
Due to his excellent ball-handling ability And offensive ability, Tim Hardaway is considered one of the best point guards in the history of the Golden State Warriors. The 6-foot-0 player is a speedy point guard with elite offensive abilities who has led the Golden State Warriors to a consistent seeding in the Western Conference playoffs. Hardaway began his second NBA season with the Warriors and became a three-time All-Star. This was after Hardaway was selected to the Warriors' All-Rookie Team after averaging 14.7 points and 8.7 assists per game.
Hardaway has made amazing contributions to the Warriors. Considering the team's performance on the offensive end, his data can definitely be selected as an All-Star. Under the control of "Tim Booger", offensive star Chris Mullin got a lot of open shooting opportunities, and he and the point guard played the best data of his career. The Warriors are an excellent offensive team today, but Hardaway's team may give them a huge impact if they play today. The point guard was a talented player who had just entered the league, but the Warriors stole it with the No. 14 pick.
9. Nate Thurmond - No. 3 pick (1963 NBA Draft)
San Francisco /Golden State Warriors Statistics: 17.4 points, 16.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.9 rebounds
Nese Thurmond is A defensive monster, he was known for protecting the rim with energy and strength. His rebounding data are crazy to the naked eye. The All-Star big man averaged more than 18 RPG per game for 5 consecutive seasons from 1965 to 1969 and is one of the most legendary defensive players of all time. Thurmond 's teammates praise his impact as one of the greatest paint protectors of all time. Fortunately for the Warriors, he contributed most of the damage in the 1963 NBA draft, making him the team's third overall pick.
The big man was named to the All-Rookie Team and was a seven-time All-Star with the San Francisco/Golden State Warriors. In the 1968-1972 season, the center never averaged less than 10 points per game with the Warriors and scored more than 20 points in 5 consecutive seasons. While blocking shots, protecting the rim and rebounding are his greatest strengths, the 6-foot-11 Thurmond is a capable scorer in the paint. The All-Star center averaged a career-high 22.0 RPG during the 1968 season.
8. Robert Parish - No. 8 pick (1976 NBA Draft)
Golden State Warriors data: 13.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.8 rebounds
Robert Parish is not only a possessor A Hall of Fame center with 9 All-Star appearances and 4 NBA championships, and he had a very long career. Many people may not know that Parish was originally drafted by the Golden State Warriors when he played for the Boston Celtics for 14 seasons. The center played 21 seasons with 4 teams, but he was drafted eighth overall in 1976 and played 4 seasons with the Warriors.As a defensive center, Parish has excellent offensive ability. He has left his mark on the team and produced stable data on both ends of the offense and defense.
Robert Parrish's rookie season was slow, averaging 9.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 rebounds per game, but he began to pick up in his second season, averaging 12.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The center averaged at least 17 points per game in his final two seasons with the Warriors, and the following season he made seven straight All-Star appearances with the Boston Celtics. The big man had an incredibly long career, and the Warriors selected him first in the draft even though he only lasted four years with the team.
7. Chris Mullin - No. 7 pick ( 1985 NBA Draft Conference)
Golden State Warriors data: 20.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.6 rebounds
It can be said that the original Golden State Warriors shooter, Chris Mullin must go down in history as one of the best shooters of all time. As a member of the Warriors, this talented scorer averaged 20.1 points per game and was the main driving force of this excellent team in the 1990s. Under the leadership of Mullin , the Warriors can score a lot of points without three-pointers.
We can imagine what the Warriors of the 90s would look like in today's game, because the three-point shot has taken the statistics to a different level. Mullin has been selected to the All-Star 5 times, the All-NBA Team 4 times, and has also entered the Hall of Fame. After playing for the Warriors for 13 seasons, Chris Mullin was one of the Warriors' top ten rookies.
6. Draymond Green - 35th overall pick ( 2012 NBA Draft conference)
Golden State Warriors data: 8.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.0 rebounds
Draymond Green possible Will never get the respect he deserves because his numbers look average, but his impact comes off the stat sheet. There's no doubt that the Warriors probably wouldn't win a championship if they didn't have their grit and glue playing a big role on the defensive end. Green can reasonably defend all five positions when needed, and his leadership ability in the team is undoubtedly great.
A 6-foot-6 power forward, Drummond was an elite passer and vocal leader who set the tone for the modern Golden State Warriors dynasty. We've seen Green take care of the ball and make the right plays on the court multiple times, he's the team's bouncer and is quite subtle in how they approach games. Drummond will be underrated, but he will also be in the Hall of Fame because of his 4 NBA championships.
5. Paul Arizin - No. 3 overall pick (1950 NBA Draft)
Paul Arrizin was selected to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team because he is considered a pioneer of the sport when he introduced the jump shot to the league. In fact, as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors, he mastered the jump shot and twice led the league in scoring. The 6-foot-4 small forward was an offensive superstar in the 1950s and early 1960s, although his numbers pale in comparison to other offensive superstars from other eras. But make no mistake, Arizin was a man of his time and has to be one of the greatest players in NBA history considering the havoc he wreaked in the NBA's early years. This small forward also briefly retired due to military service in his third and fourth years, which is incredible when you think about it.
Hall of Fame player Arizin has been selected to the All-Star team every year in the league. He averaged less than 20 points per game only once in his career (rookie season). Despite being only 6 feet 4 inches tall, Paul was also a very reliable rebounder, averaging at least 8 rebounds per game 6 times during his career. His best season was in 1952 when he averaged 11.3 rebounds per game. rebounds, and his league-leading 25.4 points. Arizin's record as a scorer with the Warriors is intact, which is why he easily cracked the top five after being drafted by the San Francisco Warriors.
4. Rick Barry - No. 4 pick (1965 NBA Draft)
Golden State Warriors statistics: 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.5 assists
Rick Barry easily became the all-time ranking A top-50 player, he is a Hall of Famer and a pure offensive giant, amassing over 25,000 points in his career. He averaged over 30 points twice during his NBA career and was known as a ferocious competitor who seemed to rub everyone the wrong way to gain an advantage. No one enjoys playing with him, and there's a reason for that, as his great record and accomplishments make him a top-10 small forward of all time.
Barry was the fourth overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft. In his second season with the San Francisco Warriors, he led the NBA in scoring with 35.6 points per game, 45.1% shooting from the field and 88.4% from the free throw line. The 6-foot-7 forward has one of the most unique free throw shots of all time, as his "granny shot" scares defenses every time they foul him. Just looking at his resume, Barry is clearly one of the greatest players in Warriors history.
3. Klay Thompson - No. 11 pick ( 2011 NBA Draft )
Golden State Warriors statistics: 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 assists
As the iconic splash brother Half, Klay Thompson has accomplished a lot with the Golden State Warriors. Along with Stephen Curry, Klay changed the game with his long-range shooting. During his career, the sharpshooter averaged 41.7% from long range and holds the NBA record for most three-pointers in a single game with 14. Of course, as Stephen Curry's (and Kevin Durant) partner in the contemporary dynasty, Klay is a 4-time NBA champion.
Although Thompson did not win the MVP or Finals MVP, without the presence of the All-Star, the Warriors probably would not have won as many championships as they did. Thompson helped Stephen Curry reach the heights he did, and he's one of the most underrated stars of the modern era, as he wasn't even named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. But as a member of the Warriors, Thompson has taken his stock to another level with the team's success and record-breaking performance, and he has to be the third-best player in the Warriors draft.
2. Wilt Chamberlain - No. 3 pick (1959 NBA Draft)
Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors data: 41.5 points, 25.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists
As the most dominant player in the history of the Warriors, weigh Walter Chamberlain broke NBA records and put up ridiculous numbers. As a member of the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the superstar center won six consecutive scoring titles, averaging 44.8 points and 50.4 points per game this season. But chamberlain is more than just an excellent scorer.
Chamberlain was also a fierce rebounder, dominating the court with a career average of 22.9 points per game. While with the Warriors, Chamberlain averaged 25.1 rebounds per game and a ridiculous 41.5 points per game. So why wasn't Chamberlain the greatest Warrior of all time? Because he never led a team to win an NBA championship, and he often trailed other all-time greats in the games that mattered most.
1. Stephen Curry - No. 7 pick (2009 NBA Draft)
Golden State Warriors statistics: 24.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.2 rebounds
There is no doubt that Stephen Curry is the Golden State Warriors The greatest player in team history. He won 4 NBA championships, 2 MVP awards, and a Finals MVP award, which led to him being the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. The point guard has reached the heights a 6-foot-2 player can achieve. Before Curry, no player under 6 feet 6 inches had changed the way the NBA played. But Curry did something incredible, and his long-range shot changed the NBA for the foreseeable future.
The point guard was an 8-time All-Star, 8-time All-NBA selection, and was named to the All-Rookie Team.Curry is also the undisputed greatest shooter in history, with career averages of 47.3% from the field, 42.8% from three-point range, and 90.8% from the free throw line. As great as Wilt Chamberlain is, Curry is another undisputed Mr. Warrior. If Curry can win more NBA championships and/or MVP awards, he has a chance to take his legacy to a whole different level because he's knocking the door down on some of the greatest players in history, regardless of who they are. In which position.
