With the league’s worst record, the Golden State Warriors will be shifting their focus to the draft, instead of preparing for a run to another NBA Finals. Although the Warriors will be on the outside of the NBA’s Orlando bubble, the defending Western Conference champions will be making a selection in the top-five of the draft.
As draft season begins to crack on, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s draft history. Prior to October’s draft, Warriors Wire is highlighting memorable selections from the Golden State Warriors.
After getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Seattle Supersonics, the Golden State Warriors were saddled with the No. 24 overall pick in the 1992 draft.
June 24, 1992
The Orlando Magic opened up the 1992 NBA draft by selecting Shaquille O’Neal out of Louisiana State University with the first overall pick. Fast forward 23 selections and the Golden State Warriors were on the clock. With the first round nearly over, Don Nelson added Alabama’s Latrell Sprewell.
After transferring from Three Rivers College, Sprewell averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, two assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals over two seasons in Tuscaloosa. Alongside fellow first-rounder Robert Horry, Sprewell helped led the Crimson Tide to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. In Sprewell’s senior season, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 17.8 points and 5.2 boards per game.
Watch college highlights from Sprewell’s matchup with O’Neal via YouTube:
As a rookie, Sprewell started 69 games in Golden State. The Alabama product averaged 15.4 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds in his first season as a Warrior. Despite Sprewell’s impressive rookie campaign, Golden State missed the playoffs for the first time in two seasons.
Watch Sprewell finish an improbable layup during his rookie season via YouTube:
Sprewell built off his rookie start, earning an All-Star bid in 1994 and 1995. Along with his All-Star game appearance, Sprewell received All-NBA First Team honors in 1994, averaging 21 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.2 steals. Sprewell was also named to the NBA’s All-Defense Second Team in 1994.
Along with Sprewell, Horry and O’Neal, other notable members of the 1992 Draft Class included Georgetown’s Alonzo Mourning, Duke’s Christian Laettner and Pepperdine’s Doug Christie.