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Who is the greatest no. 23 in Warriors history?

By Carlos Murillo

Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jason Richardson (2001-07)

For many people like myself, Jason Richardson was all we had growing up.

J-Rich had some good teammates (Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison), but none that really embodied what it meant to be a Warrior. The team hadn’t had that in a long time. They were run poorly. It was hard for players to get excited about playing for the Golden State Warriors.

Richardson was the exception.

He played hard every night, standing out as the lone bright spot for the Warriors. He quickly became a fan-favorite as his high-flying act excited Oracle Arena crowds. He was a Warrior in every sense of the word.

He averaged 17.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game over the course of his six seasons with the Warriors. He was a two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, churning out some of the most memorable performances and dunks that anyone has ever seen. He made 700 three-pointers as a Warrior, good for the most in franchise history until Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson came around.

Richardson finally made the playoffs as one of the stars for the 2007 “We Believe” team that upset the no. 1 seed Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 19.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during that incredible postseason run.

Every time he returned to Oracle Arena, he was showered with love. He took out an ad in the newspaper during one of the Warriors’ losing seasons, taking responsibility for the team’s failures and apologizing to the fans. That’s what made J-Rich so special and so beloved.

The Warriors honored his retirement from the NBA this past season. He was the best the Warriors had for years and he stuck with the team in a period where no one wanted to be around them.

Next: Draymond

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