Tag: Warriors Draft Rewind

Draft Rewind: Warriors select LSU’s Anthony Randolph in 2008 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.

Leading up to the 2020 NBA Draft in November, 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.

Before they had eyes for Stephen Curry in the 2009 NBA Draft, Don Nelson and Chris Mullin were trying to find the missing piece to Golden State’s playoff run. Before the 2008 draft, the Warriors finished with a 48-34 record, missing the playoffs by only two games. 

With Monta Ellis and Baron Davis on the wings, and former first-rounder Patrick O’Bryant struggling to adjust to the NBA level, the Warriors need to add a piece to the frontcourt before contending for a place in the playoffs. 

June 25, 2008

The Chicago Bulls began the 2009 edition of the NBA Draft by selecting March Madness phenom Derrick Rose out of Memphis with the first overall selection. 

Along with Rose, future NBA All-Stars Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook went off the board in the top-five picks of the 2009 draft. Fast forward to the end of the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors were on the clock.

With the No. 14 pick in the draft, Nelson and Mullin landed Louisiana State University standout Anthony Randolph. During his first and only season in Baton Rouge, the 6-foot-11 prospect averaged 15.6 points on 46.4% shooting from the field with 8.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.2 assist and 1.1 steals. Following his impressive first season at LSU, Randolph was named to the SEC-All-Freshman First Team.

During his rookie season in the Bay Area, the 19-year-old forward averaged 7.9 points 46.2% from the field, with 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest. Randolph started 22 of the 63 games he suited up for a rookie. 

Randolph built on his steady rookie play in 2009-10, bumping his scoring averages up to 11.6 points on 44.3% shooting with 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. During the next season, Randolph was included in a trade with the New York Knicks. The Warriors traded Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike, Ronny Turiaf and a future second-round pick for David Lee. 

After short stints in New York, Minnesota and Denver, the former Golden State first-rounder opted to play overseas.

Randolph spent two seasons playing for PBC Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia before moving to Real Madrid. Over his four seasons in La Liga, Randolph won the EuroLeague championship in 2018, the Spanish League championship twice and the Spanish Supercup three times.

Along with Rose, Love and Westbrook, other notable members of the 2008 NBA Draft class included Brook Lopez, Roy Hibbert, Marreese Speights, JaVale McGee, Serge Ibaka, Nicola Batum, George Hill, DeAndre Jordan, Goran Dragic. 

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Draft Rewind: Warriors select Alabama’s Latrell Sprewell in 1992 first round

In 1992, the Golden State Warriors selected forward Latrell Sprewell out of Alabama with the No. 24 overall pick in the draft.

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.

Draft Rewind: Warriors select UTEP’s Tim Hardaway in 1989 first round

When the Golden State Warriors drafted Tim Hardaway out of UTEP in 1989, the Warriors added the final piece to Don Nelson’s Run TMC trio.

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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