- Here's a list of the best Golden State Warriors' draft picks in franchise history.
- Rick Barry leads the list of players Golden State selected through the draft.
- Other notable players include Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
The Golden State Warriors is the third-winningest NBA franchise in history with seven titles in 11 appearances in the NBA Finals. Four of these titles were captured in the past decade, as they won in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Even the first NBA title in 1947 was won by the franchise. Most of this success is credited to the players they selected in the draft, which drastically improved their chances in NBA championship odds.
Throughout their team history, Golden State has showcased their ability to scout and select players to help them compete in the league. Names like Nate Thurmond, Chris Mullin, Wilt Chamberlain, Draymond Green, Jordan Poole, Paul Arizin, and Latrell Sprewell have significantly contributed to the franchise. However, three players made the cut for the three best Golden State Warriors’ draft picks.
Rick Barry
Rick Barry is one of the most legendary Warriors players of all time, and he was drafted as the fourth overall pick in 1965. The player out of Miami proved that he was the best player in his draft class by putting up a double-double output of 25.7 points and 10.6 rebounds in his first season in the league. This incredible number was enough to secure him the Rookie of the Year award in 1966. From then on, the super-scoring forward sustained his fantastic offensive showing in the following seasons.
12x All Star, 1966-67 Scoring Champ, 1975 NBA Champion, 1965-66 Rookie of the Year and NBA 75th Anniversary Team member, Rick Barry. #NBA75
Watch more Rick Barry moments here: https://t.co/1xBUSjJvWR pic.twitter.com/a3h9PlTysB
— NBA (@NBA) March 16, 2022
In his second year, Barry led the team to the NBA Finals with averages of 35.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists but fell short against Philadelphia in six games. Although he had some controversies in his time with the team, “Miami Greyhound” still led the Warriors to the promised land in 1975, where he was also named the NBA Finals MVP. Apart from the championship, Barry represented Golden State in 12 NBA All-Star Games and was included on the All-NBA 1st Team five times.
Stephen Curry
In 2009, Golden State took the risk of drafting a skinny and injury-prone guard out of Davidson. The team used their seventh overall pick to select Stephen Curry, and that risk paid off big time, as he not only became the face of the franchise but also changed the game of basketball in the modern era with his incredible three-point shooting. In 14 seasons with the Warriors, Curry has already racked up the accolades, both individually and through championships.
Stephen Curry receives the Bill Russell Trophy as the 2022 #NBAFinals MVP! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/rWxCcmdpCl
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2022
The 6-foot-2 sharpshooter has won two regular season MVP awards and was selected to nine NBA All-Star Games, where he tallied the third most points scored in the NBA All-Star Game in 2022 with 50 points. Curry also helped the Warriors win four NBA titles in the past decade and secured one NBA Finals MVP award. In 882 games so far with Golden State, one-half of the “Splash Brothers” accumulated an average of 24.6 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds.
Klay Thompson
Completing the three best Golden State Warriors is Klay Thompson, who was selected as the 11th overall pick in 2011. The former Washington State star is the other half of the “Splash Brothers,” which reinvented the style of play in today’s era. Thompson is the consensus second-best three-point shooter of all time behind Curry, as he has provided incredible and crucial performances throughout his career. The 6-foot-6 guard also authored a few iconic Game 6 performances in the playoffs to help Golden State succeed in the postseason.
NBA CHAMPION KLAY THOMPSON pic.twitter.com/0agagaEFFq
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 17, 2022
In 716 games so far, Thompson is averaging 19.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 10 seasons for the Warriors, as he was an integral member of their dynasty that captured four NBA titles. He represented Dub Nation in five straight NBA All-Star Games from 2015 to 2019 and was included on the All-NBA 3rd Team twice in 2015 and 2016. Thompson is coming off an ACL injury but is still playing at a high level.
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