Top 25 Golden State Warriors in franchise history
10. Mitch Richmond
I actually had Mitch Richmond closer to the top when I started this piece. But it was hard to overlook the fact that he played just three seasons with the team. The stellar shooting guard was drafted 5th overall by the Warriors in the 1988 NBA Draft, but he was a major player during one of the most important eras in Golden State basketball.
Richmond got off to a great star to his Warriors career. He was named the Rookie of the Year after averaging 22 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He would become one-third of one of the most exciting trios in NBA history.
He was the slasher in Run-TMC. He was a key figure in Don Nelson’s run-and-gun offense. The Warriors made the playoffs in two of his three years in the Bay Area. Richmond was a phenomenal scorer. He averaged 22.7 points on over 48 percent shooting in his three seasons in Golden State.
No. 23 would become a fan-favorite (and remain one even after he was traded away) because of his exciting play. He was in the conversation with the other great shooting guards of his era. Richmond said that playing with the Warriors was the most fun he had in his career.
Despite his short tenure, the Hall of Fame Richmond was special and left a lasting impression on the fan base and the franchise’s history.