While the rest of the league is getting ready for the NBA’s return in the Orlando bubble, the Golden State Warriors will be staying home. With the Warriors season officially over, the duo of Bob Myers and Steve Kerr will have a jumpstart when it comes to preparing for the NBA Draft.
For the first time in years, the Warriors are slated to own a top-five draft pick. Before draft day arrives in October, Warriors Wire is digging into Golden State’s history for memorable selections.
In 1989, the Warriors added the finishing touch to a trio that lives on in Golden State lore.
June 27, 1989
After selecting in the top-five in 1988, the Golden State Warriors surged to a playoff appearance behind Chris Mullin and rookie Mitch Richmond. However, the Warriors were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns.
In 1989, the Warriors owned the No. 14 overall selection in the first round. To kick off the 1989 draft, the Sacramento Kings took Duke’s Pervis Ellison off the board with the first overall pick. Fast forward to the middle of the draft, and the Warriors were on the clock.
With a need in the backcourt, the Warriors added Texas at El Paso guard Tim Hardaway at No. 14. In his senior season at UTEP, the 6-foot guard averaged 22 points, 5.4 assists, four rebounds and 2.8 steals per contest. Hardaway helped lead the Miners to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. His No. 10 jersey was later retired by UTEP.
In his rookie season, Hardaway started in 78 games, averaging 14.7, 8.7 assists and 2.1 steals in 33.7 minutes per game. Despite Hardaway’s impressive start to his career, the Warriors missed the playoffs in 1990.
Watch a highlight dunk from Hardaway’s rookie season via YouTube:
Alongside Mullin and Richmond, the addition of Hardaway blossomed Golden State’s powerful “Run TMC” attack. Hardaway and Run TMC led the Warriors to back-to-back playoff appearances starting in 1991.
Other memorable prospects from the 1989 draft class included Sean Elliott, Shawn Kemp, Glenn Rice and Vlade Divac.
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