Before the Golden State Warriors are on the clock with the No. 2 overall selection next month, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s draft history to highlight some of the most memorable picks — trades, surprises, busts, sleepers and everything in between.
With less than a week away from the 2020 NBA draft, Warriors Wire is looking back at the only time in franchise history Golden State was on the clock with the No. 2 overall pick.
Luckily for the Warriors, Bob Feerick and Alex Hannum were able to land a future Hall of Famer with the second pick in the 1965 NBA draft.
May 6, 1965
After registering a 17-63 record in the 1964-65 season, the San Francisco Warriors held the first and second overall picks in the 1965 NBA draft. With three players off the board before the draft began due to territorial picks, the Warriors opened the draft by selecting Fred Hetzel out of Davidson.
While Hetzel went on to earn a spot on the NBA’s All-Rookie Team, the Warriors struck gold with their second choice in the first round. With the No. 2 overall selection in the 1965 draft, the Warriors picked Rick Barry out of Miami.
During his final season at Miami, Barry’s impressive 37.4 points per game on 52.2% shooting from the field earned the junior forward consensus All-American honors.
Barry’s elite scoring ability quickly translated to the professional level. As a rookie, Barry averaged 25.7 points on 43.9% shooting from the field. Barry added 10.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Over his debut season in the Bay Area, Barry scored 40 or more points on seven occasions, with his career-high 57 points coming against the New York Knicks. With Barry in the lineup, the Warriors improved their win total from 17 victories to 35.
Along with spots on the All-NBA First Team, All-Rookie Team and All-Star Team, Barry went on to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.
Barry’s list of accolades continued throughout his historic career and beyond. The Hall of Fame forward registered eight trips to the NBA All-Star Game and a scoring title. In 1996, Barry was named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All-Time for the league’s 50th anniversary.
During a run to the NBA title in 1975, Barry was named Finals MVP after Golden State’s championship sweep over the Washington Bullets.
Other notable members of the 1965 draft class included Bill Bradley, Gail Goodrich, Jerry Sloan, Billy Cunningham, Dick Van Arsdale, Tom Van Arsdale and Flynn Robinson.
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