Ranking the Golden State Warriors’ Best Drafts of the Past Decade
By John Kim
No. 1: 2009 Draft
May 16, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30, right) receives a hug from head coach Mark Jackson (left) after leaving the game during the fourth quarter in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena. The Spurs defeated the Warriors 94-82. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen Curry is undoubtedly the Warriors’ best draft pick of the past 10 years. Taken in the 2009 draft with the seventh pick, Curry is the leader of a young and dangerous Warriors team.
In just his fourth year, Curry has already marked his place in NBA record books, breaking the single-season record for three-pointers this past season with 272. With a career .465/.446/.901 shooting percentage, Curry already ranks among the best shooters of all-time.
Curry had translated his game to the NBA with remarkable adaptability. Lacking in size, he has used quickness and deception to score over taller, stronger players. His 22.9 points per game during the regular season places him just behind Ellis in Warrior scoring leaders. As he continues to improve in health and talent, expect Curry to be among the league leaders in points, three-pointers, assists and steals for many seasons to come.
Curry ranks among the top three players taken in the 2009 draft. Blake Griffin and James Harden occupy the other two spots but Curry indisputably is as talented, if not more, than anybody taken in that draft. The Warriors understand that Curry would have been a steal as the second overall pick.
As the Warriors continue to succeed behind Curry, Thompson and Barnes, do not expect anymore lottery picks in the coming years. Like they did in 2012 (Festus Ezeli and Draymond Green), the Warriors need to find treasures deep in drafts to be successful in the long run.