Tag: NBA Draft Rewind

Draft History: Warriors select Vanderbilt’s Festus Ezeli with final pick in 2012 first round

Before the Warriors are on the clock in 2020, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s draft history to highlight memorable picks.

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 two picks in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft, general manager Bob Myers eyed a pair of players the Golden State Warriors could build around their young backcourt tandem of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. 

Following North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes landing in the Bay Area with the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, Myers and Mark Jackson targeted a prospect that can slide alongside veteran center Andrew Bogut in Golden State’s frontcourt. 

June 28, 2012

To open the 2012 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats selected back-to-back Kentucky Wildcats with the first two picks. Anthony Davis went No. 1 to New Orleans with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist going to Charlotte at No. 2. 

After selecting Barnes with their top pick in the 2012 edition of the draft, the Warriors were back on the clock with the No. 30 overall pick courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs. 

With the final pick of the first round, the Warriors selected Vanderbilt’s Festus Ezeli. 

In his final two seasons in Kevin Stalling’s Vanderbilt program, the 6-foot-11 center averaged double-figures in scoring. As a senior, Ezeli averaged 10.1 points per game on 53.9% shooting from the field with 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. Along with the Commodores center, Jefferey Taylor and John Jenkins joined a group of three players to be selected in the 2012 draft from Vanderbilt.

Along with an SEC tournament championship in 2012, the trio featuring Ezeli, Taylor and Jenkins led the Commodores to three appearances in the NCAA tournament. 

Once he was drafted by Golden State, Ezeli’s rookie training wheels came off rather quickly. While Bogut dealt with injuries, the first-year center was thrust into the starting lineup. During his rookie season, Ezeli started a career-high 41 games while averaging 4.0 boards, 2.4 points, and 0.9 blocks per contest. 

In his sophomore year in the NBA, Ezeli sealed his spot as a member of the Golden State Warriors 2015 championship team. During Golden State’s postseason run to the Finals, Ezeli averaged 3.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest. 

Watch highlights from Ezeli’s 2015 season in Golden State via YouTube:

Following three seasons in Golden State, Ezeli signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2016. However, injuries hampered Ezeli’s career in the Pacific Northwest. After missing the entire season with a knee injury, Ezeli was waived by the Trail Blazers in 2017. 

Other notable members of the 2012 draft class include Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond, John Henson, Evan Fournier, Draymond Green and Khris Middleton.

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Draft Rewind: Warriors land undrafted prospect Jeremy Lin out of Harvard after 2010 NBA Draft

Before the Warriors are on the clock in 2020, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s draft history to highlight memorable picks.

Before the Golden State Warriors fill out the card for the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, 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.

Although the Warriors have three picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, there’s a chance Bob Myers and Steve Kerr will be monitoring who goes undrafted. The Warriors have been able to identify undrafted prospects like Damion Lee, Ky Bowman and Mychal Mulder, who’ve developed into contributors. With expensive contracts on the books in Golden State, the duo of Kerr and Myers will need to get creative when it comes to filling out the rest of their roster.

While the Warriors had a pick in the top-10 on draft night in 2010, Keith Smart and Larry Riley were able to bring in a local product as an undrafted free agent that later developed into a breakout phenom.

June 24, 2010

Despite a prospect pool that featured John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Gordon Hayward and Paul George, the Golden State Warriors selected Ekpe Udoh with the No. 6 overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.

With no second-round pick, the Warriors 2010 draft class consisted of only the Baylor product. However, Riley and Smart were active in the undrafted free agent market. Almost a month after the draft, the Warriors signed undrafted free agent Jeremy Lin out of Hardvard to a two-year contract.

During four seasons at Harvard, the point guard was a three-year starter, earning two nods to the All-Ivy League First-Team. Over his career with The Crimson, Lin averaged 12.9 points on 48.1% shooting from the field with 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists per contest.

The Palo Alto native signed with the Warriors following a solid performance in the Summer League with the Dallas Mavericks.

During his first season in the association, Lin bounced back and forth between Golden State’s rotation and the D League. As a rookie, Lin played in 29 games, averaging 2.6 points on 38.9% from the field with 1.4 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game.

Watch highlights from Lin’s rookie season with the Warriors via YouTube: 

After the NBA lockout in 2011, the Warriors waived Lin during preseason training camp. After his time with Golden State, Lin joined the Houston Rockets. However, he was waived again before seeing any game action with Houston.

Despite bouncing around, Lin broke out in his sophomore season as a member of the New York Knicks. In a February tilt against the New Jersey Nets, “Linsanity” was born. The former Warrior point guard exploded for 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field with seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Following his breakout game for New York, Lin scored 20 or more points in the next nine of 10 games. In 2011-12, Lin recorded seven double-doubles in 35 games. Lin’s impressive stint thrust the young guard into a starting role inside Madison Square Garden. After only averaging 9.8 minutes per game in Golden State, Lin started 25 games with New York, playing 26.9 minutes per contest.

After his breakout campaign with the Knicks, Lin signed a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets to be their starting point guard. During his nine-year career in the NBA, Lin made stops in Los Angeles, Charlotte, Brooklyn, Atlanta and Toronto.

In 2019, Lin matched up with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals as a member of the Toronto Raptors.

Other notable prospects from the 2010 draft class included Evan Turner, Derrick Favors, Eric Bledsoe, Avery Bradley, Patrick Patterson, Ed Davis, Al-Farouq Aminu and Lance Stephenson. 

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Draft Rewind: Warriors select Bradley’s Patrick O’Bryant in 2006 first round

Before the Warriors are on the clock in 2020, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s draft history to highlight memorable picks.

Before the Golden State Warriors make the No. 2 selection in the 2020 NBA Draft, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s draft catalog to highlight some of the most memorable selections — trades, surprises, busts, sleepers and everything in between.

In 2006, the Warriors eyed a big man prospect after a surprising run in the NCAA Tournament. 

June 28, 2006

The Toronto Raptors started the 2006 NBA Draft selecting Italy’s Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick. Eight picks later, Chris Mullin and Don Nelson were on the clock. With the No. 9 pick, the Warriors landed Patrick O’Bryant out of Bradley. 

During his final season in the Missouri Valley Conference, Bradley tallied 13.4 points on 55.2% shooting from the field with 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. 

In the 2006 NCAA Tourament, O’Bryant helped lead No. 13 seed Bradley past Kansas and Pittsburgh for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen. Although Bradley could not complete the Cinderella story, losing to top-seeded Memphis, O’Bryant’s performance during March Madness boosted his draft stock. 

After a foot injury took the Golden State rookie out of training camp, the 7-footer saw limited action in this debut season in the Bay Area. O’Bryant averaged 1.9 points on 31.3% shooting from the field, with 1.3 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per contest. The 20-year-old ended his rookie season playing only 16 games.

His struggles lingered into his sophomore year in the NBA. O’Bryant was sent down to Golden State’s D League affiliate in Bakersfield. With his trip to the Bakersfield Jam taking up part of his season, O’Bryant only appeared in the Warriors rotation 24 times in the 2007-08 season.

Watch highlights from O’Bryant’s 2007-08 season via YouTube:

Following his second season with the Warriors, O’Bryant signed a deal with the Boston Celtics in the offseason. The Bradley product suited up for the Celtics and the Toronto Raptors before his time in the NBA came to a close after the 2009-10 season.

During his career, O’Bryant averaged 2.1 points on 49.4% shooting from the field with 1.4 rebounds in 90 games.

After his time in the NBA ended, O’Bryant played in Europe, Puerto Rico, China and Canada. In 2012, O’Bryant was named Puerto Rico’s BSN Defensive Player of the Year. In 2018, the former Warriors big man joined The Trilogy in The BIG 3 League.

Notable members of the 2006 NBA Draft class included LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, J.J. Redick, Rajon Rondo, Kyle Lowry and Paul Milsap.

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Draft Rewind: Warriors select Italy’s Marco Belinelli in 2007 first round

In the 2007 edition of the NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors landed Italian shooting guard Marco Belinelli with in the first round.

As the league’s restart is looming, players across the NBA have officially entered the Orlando Bubble. However, the Golden State Warriors will be watching from home With the league’s worst record at 15-50, the Warriors are one of eight teams on the outside of the bubble.

With no hoops on Golden State’s calendar, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr can turn their attention to the NBA Draft. For the first time since 2002, the Warriors will have the opportunity to make a selection in the top-five picks.

Before Golden State hits the clock in October, Warriors Wire is rewinding through the organization’s draft history to highlight the most memorable selections — trades, surprises, busts, sleepers and everything in between.

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In 2007, the Warriors eyed an Italian shooter in the first round of the NBA Draft.

June 28, 2007

To start the 2007 edition of the NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Ohio State big man Greg Oden with the first overall pick. Fast forward 17 selection, Golden State’s Chris Mullin and Don Nelson were on the clock.

Coming off a dramatic playoff run, the “We Believe” Warriors were looking to add a piece that could push them deeper into the postseason. With the No. 18 overall pick, the Warriors landed Italy’s Marco Belinelli in the first round. 

Watch the moment Belinelli became a member of the Golden State Warriors via YouTube: 

Before arriving at the NBA stage, Belinelli gained experience in Italy’s Series A with Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna.

In his rookie season in the Bay Area, Belinelli slid behind Baron Davis and Monta Ellis in Golden State’s backcourt. As a rookie, Belinelli played a limited role, averaging 2.9 points on 38.7% shooting from the field and 39.0% from beyond the arc with 0.5 assists and 0.4 rebounds per game. 

As a sophomore, Belinelli increased his playing time from 7.3 minutes to 21.0 minutes per contest. Belinelli started 23 of his 33 games in 2008-09, averaging 8.9 points on 44.2% shooting from the field and 39.7% from long distace with 2.1 assists and 1.7 boards per game.

With a bevy of wings on the roster in 2009, the Warriors moved their former first-rounder to the Toronto Raptors for veteran Devean George.                                                                                                                                                   A decade later, Belinelli has some hardware in his trophy room. The former Golden State guard is an NBA Finals champion (2014) with the San Antonio Spurs and a 3-Point Contest Champion (2014).

Other notable players from the 2007 NBA draft class include Kevin Durant, Florida’s Al Horford, USC’s Nick Young and Spain’s Marc Gasol. 

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