Since the Golden State Warriors first entered the NBA in 1946, they have been among the league's most prosperous teams. They have appeared in 37 playoff games, won seven NBA championships, and won six division crowns. They have selected some of the greatest NBA players over the years, who have had an impact on the club and the league. Following are some of the players drafted by the Warriors, who made their mark in the NBA.
Rick Barry
Rick Barry, a prodigious scorer and future Hall of Famer, was selected in the second round of the 1965 NBA Draft out of Miami, where as a senior he had led the country in scoring. He played with Golden State for eight seasons, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 1966 and led the league in scoring the following year. He also helped the Warriors win their first NBA title in 1975, scoring 29.5 points per game on average against the Washington Bullets to win the Finals MVP award. With Golden State, he was selected to eight All-Star teams and six NBA All-Star teams. With Golden State, he scored 25.6 points, grabbed 7.3 rebounds, and made 5.1 assists per game.
Chris Mullin
From St. John's, where he had won the Wooden Award as a senior, came the sharpshooter and future Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, who was selected seventh overall in the 1985 draft. He played with Golden State for 13 seasons, during which he was a five-time All-Star, a part of the 1992 Olympic Gold-winning original Dream Team, and a two-time All-NBA First Team selection. Along with Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond, he was a member of the explosive Run TMC offense that electrified the league. With Golden State, he scored 20.1 points, grabbed 4.4 rebounds, and made 3.9 assists each game.
Klay Thompson
One of the greatest Warriors players in history, Klay Thompson is one of the best shooters and defenders of his time. In 2011, he was selected with the 11th overall pick out of Washington State, where he had twice made the All-Pac-10 First Team. He has played his whole career for Golden State, where he has earned five All-Star selections, two All-NBA teams, and three NBA titles. Along with Stephen Curry, he was a member of the Splash Brothers, a team that completely changed the game with their uncanny ability to shoot threes.
Wilt Chamberlain
One of the best players of all time and among the best to ever don a Warriors uniform is Wilt Chamberlain. From Kansas, where he had been a two-time All-American and a national champion as a freshman, he was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors as a territorial pick in the 1959 NBA Draft. He played with Philadelphia/Golden State for six seasons, when he was named Rookie of the Year in 1960 and led the league in both scoring and rebounds seven times. In a game against the New York Knicks in 1962, he also set an NBA record by scoring 100 points. In games for Philadelphia/Golden State, he grabbed 25.1 rebounds and scored 41.5 points on average.
Stephen Curry
One of the best shooters of all time, Stephen Curry is also one of the greatest Warriors players in team history. He was selected seventh overall in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Davidson, where as a sophomore he had helped his team reach the Elite Eight. He has played his entire professional career for Golden State, where he has earned six All-NBA teams, seven All-Star teams, two MVP trophies, and three NBA titles. In addition, he has twice led the league in both scoring and made three-pointers. With Golden State, he has put up averages of 24 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.
Must Read |
