Warriors Draft History – Syndication Server

Draft Rewind: Warriors select Miami’s Rick Barry with No. 2 overall pick in 1965

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 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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Draft Rewind: Warriors select Adonal Foyle out of Colgate in 1997 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.

In the 1997 NBA Draft, the Warriors were able to find a prospect that would remain in the Bay Area for the next 10 seasons.

June 25, 1997

The San Antonio Spurs opened the 1997 edition of the NBA draft by selecting future Hall of Fame power forward Tim Duncan. Before the top-10 picks came to a close, the Golden State’s Garry St. Jean and P.J. Carlesimo were on the clock.

With the No. 9 pick in the draft, the Golden State Warriors landed Adonal Foyle out of Colgate University.

While helping push Colgate to two trips to the NCAA Tournament, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 20.4 points on 56.6% shooting from the field with 12.7 rebounds and 5.7 blocks during his three-year stint with the Raiders.

In his final season at Colgate, the center averaged an eye-opening 6.4 blocks per contest. Prior to declaring for the NBA draft, Foyle was the NCAA’s all-time leader in blocks with 492.

Along with winning Patriot League Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, Bey earned a spot on the AP All-American Third-team.

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As a rookie, Foyle played in 55 games, tallying 3.0 points on 40.6% shooting from the field with 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per contest.

After developing into a frontcourt contributor, Foyle went on to play 10 consecutive seasons in the Bay Area. Over his 10 year career with the Warriors, Foyle averaged 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 points and 1.8 blocks per contest.

Watch highlights from Foyle’s run with the Warriors via YouTube:

Before retiring in 2009, Foyle recorded minutes for the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies. Once his playing days were over, Foyle joined the Magic’s front office as the team’s director of player development until 2012.

Foyle currently serves as a basketball analyst for post-game commentary on ABC 7’s “After the Game” in the Bay Area.

Other notable members of the 1997 NBA Draft class included Chauncey Billups and Tracy McGrady.

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Draft Rewind: Warriors select Todd Fuller out of NC State in 1996 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 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.

After selecting NBA All-Rookie team member Joe Smith out of Maryland with the first overall selection in the 1995 NBA draft, Rick Adelman and David Twardzik were looking to build on their success in the 1996 draft.

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While they weren’t on the clock at the top of the draft, the Warriors had the opportunity to add another talented youth to their core that featured the former No. 1 overall pick, Latrell Sprewell and Donyell Marshall.

June 26, 1996

The Philadelphia 76ers opened the 1996 edition of the NBA draft with their selection of Georgetown point guard Allen Iverson. Following “AI,” 10 picks went off the board before the Golden State Warriors were officially on the clock.

With the first pick just outside of the top-10, the Golden State Warriors added NC State big man Todd Fuller with the No. 11 overall selection.

Despite future All-Stars like Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Peja Stojaković, Jermain O’Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas still on the board, the tandem of Adelman and Twardzik decided to pass on them for Fuller.

On his way to being named to the All-ACC First Team, Fuller averaged 20.9 points on 50.6% shooting from the field with 9.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per contest.

Although his numbers at the college level were substantial, the 6-foot-11 center had trouble adjusting to professional basketball. During his first season in the Bay Area, Fuller averaged 4.1 points on 42.9 shooting from the field with 3.3 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per contest.

Despite his down numbers in his debut season, Fuller would never go on to top his mark from his rookie year. The big man’s numbers continued to decline in his sophomore season with Golden State.

Watch the moment Fuller was drafted by the Golden State Warriors via YouTube:

After only playing in 57 games in 1997-98, the Warriors traded Fuller to the Utah Jazz in the 1998-99 season. After short stints with the Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, Fuller opted to play overseas.

After his time in the NBA came to a close, Fuller played professionally in Spain, Poland, and Greece.

Over Fuller’s five seasons in the association, he averaged 3.7 points on 42.4% shooting from the field with 3.0 rebounds per contest in 225 games.

Along with Bryant, Iverson, Nash, Ilgauskas and O’Neal, other standout members of the 1996 draft class included Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Antoine Walker, Derek Fisher and Kerry Kittles.

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