Here are the 25 Greatest Players in Golden State Warriors history.
The Golden State Warriors have had a lot of ups-and-downs over the course of their franchise history. They’ve won four championship; one of just five teams in league history to do so. They’ve also lost a lot, especially since moving to the Bay Area.
Whether they were winning a title or finishing at the bottom of the standings, the Warriors have had a lot of really good players suit up for them. From transcendent figures to All-Stars to solid players, the franchise has had more quality players than most franchises. Even if their rafters don’t reflect that.
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It’s important to look back on a franchise’s history and celebrate the greats that have played for it. It’s also really fun. So I’ve compiled a list of twenty-five of the greatest Warriors (Philadelphia and Golden State) in franchise history.
For this list, I took several different factors into consideration. I looked at statistics during the player’s Warriors career, but that wasn’t it. I also took a look at how they stacked up against the competition. This isn’t necessarily about which players you’d start an all-time team with because I, personally, believe that modern-day players are significantly better than those from previous generations. Context is important here.
I weighed what they meant to the team and the organization. Some players can be fantastic, but they may not embody what it means to be a Warrior. Some guys do and this list will honor that. Take a look.
Next: Honorable Mention
Kevin Durant
When Kevin Durant throws on his Golden State Warriors uniform and steps out onto the hardwood for the first time, he’ll automatically be one of the best to play for the team. He’s probably the greatest scorer in league history. Unfortunately, all his accolades predate his arrival in the Bay Area.
If Durant can pump out another season like the ones that he’s had his whole career, then he’ll find himself on this list soon enough. If he can help bring the Dubs a title and start a dynasty, then he will catapult himself to the top pretty soon. He’s a special, Hall of Fame talent with an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the franchise. He just hasn’t done anything yet.
World B. Free
When I drafted up my original list, I actually had him in the top twenty-five. Upon further inspection, I determined that he should probably go on this part and I’d bump someone else up. But Free does deserve a mention.
He played just two seasons with the Warriors, but he was spectacular. He averaged 23.4 points per game on nearly 45 percent shooting from the field. He was the leading scorer on a solid Dubs team that finished 45-37 in the 1981-82 season. He didn’t lead the Warriors to the playoffs and was only on the team for two seasons, but he was exciting.
Chris Webber
The 1994 Rookie of the Year could have really been special in Golden State if he hadn’t clashed with head coach Don Nelson. He averaged 17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in his one year with the Warriors. He helped lead them to the playoffs, but they were swept by Charles Barkley’s Phoenix Suns. Unfortunately, he didn’t want to buy into what Nelson was selling and the Warriors were forced to trade him away.
Guy Rodgers
Guy Rodgers didn’t make the list just because of numbers. He was one of the best facilitators in franchise history. He holds the record for most assists in franchise history and is sixth in minutes played. He played eight seasons from 1958-1966. Unfortunately, he wasn’t enough of a scorer to warrant putting him in the top 25.
Next: No. 25
25. Robert Parish
Best known as a member of the Boston Celtics’ “Big Three” with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale that dominated the 1980’s, Robert Parish was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1976. He wasn’t the dominant figure that he would become in Boston quite yet. He wouldn’t even be an All-Star with the Warriors.
Parish joined the Warriors when they were two years removed from their championship run with Rick Barry. He joined the Dubs as they started to decline. They made the playoffs just once during his four year tenure on the West Coast.
He was pretty good in a limited role during his rookie campaign. He played just 18 minutes per game, his fewest until his age 41 season in 1994-95 when he played just 16 minutes per contest. He averaged 9.1 points and 7.1 rebounds.
His numbers improved over the next three seasons as he started to become a really good player. In his last two seasons with the Warriors, Parish averaged 17.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He also shot 49.5 percent during his four years.
The Warriors were years removed from being a winning team, missing the playoffs three years in a row. They were looking to make a change. Red Auerbach saw an opportunity to really make a move as he already had Bird on his team. He traded the first pick to the Warriors in exchange for Parish. That pick would turn into Joe Barry Carroll.
Parish would go onto bigger and better things. He’d establish himself as one of the best big men ever in Boston. While he never reached that in Golden State, he still put up some great numbers.
Next: No. 24
24. Bernard King
Again, another player that did most of his work for a team other than the Warriors. Bernard King played fourteen seasons in the NBA, but he just played two for Golden State. He is best known as a New York Knick, but his time with the Warriors was important for his Hall of Fame career.
In the 1979-80 season, King dealt with substance abuse as a member of the Utah Jazz. He played just 19 games. He was then traded to Golden State and he made an immediate impact.
The 6’7 small forward averaged 22.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists during his two seasons. During his second year with the team in 1981-82, he helped the team finish with a solid record of 45-37. He led the team in minutes, points, and field goal percentage that season.
In his first season in the Bay Area, King’s efforts was enough to secure him the league’s first-ever Comeback Player of the Year award. It was well-deserved after he came back from a dark place. He dealt with issues in Utah and, while his stats didn’t reflect it, he also had off-court problems before that with the New Jersey Nets.
He built on his success in his next year with Golden State. He become an All-Star and an All-NBA player. The Warriors would then trade him to his hometown Knicks. His career was very short, but he’s a Hall of Fame basketball talent (with off the court problems, to say the least) and he did good things on the court for the Warriors.
Next: No. 23
23. David Lee
All right guys. Easy now. Give me a break.
David Lee is a flawed basketball player. The end of his Golden State Warriors career wasn’t great. But he also did a lot of good things for the team in his five seasons on the Dubs.
He was really the Warriors’ first big free agent signing in years when he left the New York Knicks for the Bay Area. He immediately became one of the leaders on the team. Unfortunately, those teams weren’t very good. He was a double-double machine, giving the Warriors something consistent during a time when there was a lot of turnover.
Lee really took a huge step when he became the Warriors’ first All-Star since Latrell Sprewell in 1997. He averaged 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field during the 2012-13 season. He helped the Warriors secure their first playoff berth since 2007.
In it, he got hurt in the opening game and, while many thought he wouldn’t return with a torn hip flexor, he did. He played as Golden State upset the Denver Nuggets and advanced to the second round. It was a special moment for a guy who had never made the playoffs before.
Two years later, Lee would have to take a back seat to Draymond Green. Injury kept him out early and he could never regain his starting spot. He didn’t get regular minutes, but when the Warriors needed him most, he provided. Down 2-1 in the NBA Finals, Steve Kerr turned to Lee who gave the Warriors strong minutes.
He’s a fan-favorite. He wasn’t the best, but he embodied what it meant to be a Warrior. He played hard and never complained. He was an All-Star and an All-NBA player. Ultimately, he was rewarded with a championship ring.
Next: No. 22
22. Joe Fulks
We’re going pretty far back in the history book for this one, guys. But Joe Fulks was just as important to the Warriors franchise as any other player. He was also a fantastic player during his time.
Fulks played eight seasons for the Philadelphia Warriors from 1946-54. He stayed with one team throughout his whole career, but he just happened to play for two leagues. His first three seasons were with the Basketball Association of America. Then the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the NBA in 1949.
The Warriors won the first ever BAA championship. He led the league in scoring during it’s inaugural season, averaging 23.2 points per game. He then led the team to a national title.
He dominated in the BAA. He averaged 23.9 points per game and won a championship. While he was a two-time All-Star in the NBA, his play did drop off. His NBA-high would be 18.7 points per game in 1950-51.
He was known as one of the game’s best offensive players. He scored a league-record 63 points in one game in 1949. Elgin Baylor would break it ten years later.
Fulks isn’t a name that most people would have heard of. But the 6’5 power forward was an important figure in the history of professional basketball. His career and abilities, in context, should be appreciated. He was a pioneer of the game of basketball.
Next: No. 21
21. Al Attles
Al Attles is one of the most influential and important individuals in Warriors franchise history. His number “16” hangs in the rafters as one of the new jersey numbers retired by the team. He was more than just a good player and that’s why he’s on this list.
Attles put up respectable numbers during his career. He averaged 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. His numbers, admittedly, don’t jump off the page. But he was a tough defender and a key part of some really good Warriors teams.
He was there as the Warriors made their journey from Philadelphia to the West Coast. He become a player-coach and one of the first African-American head coaches in the Association. In 1975, he became the second African-American coach (after Bill Russell) to win a championship as he led Rick Barry and the Warriors to an upset win over the Washington Bullets.
Attles was both tough and intelligent. He was a key figure during a vital transitional phase for the organization. He knew exactly what he needed to do to win. While his statistics on the court don’t scream franchise great, he absolutely was. He made a mark on the franchise and the league that won’t ever go away.
20. Purvis Short
With the fifth pick in the 1978 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors picked Purvis Short. The next pick? The Boston Celtics selected a guy from Indiana State named Larry Bird.
In hindsight, Bird was obviously the better choice. And, while Short never lived up to being drafted in front of him (who could?), his tenure with the Warriors was impressive. He played nine seasons with the team, suiting up for them from 1978-1986. He was solid throughout his time with the team, but he really turned it on in his last few years.
The 6’7 forward really turned it up after the 1981-82 season. He would average over 20 points in each of the next three years. His best season came during the 1984-85 season. He averaged 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists on 46 percent shooting.
That year, he finished fifth in scoring in the league, situated right in between Michael Jordan and Alex English. Bernard King was actually the scoring champ that year, averaging an incredible 32.9 points per game in New York.
Short had an especially noteworthy three year stretch, but he was solid throughout his entire Golden State career. What helped earn him a spot on this list was his longevity. He spent nine years with the team and is ninth all-time in minutes in franchise history. He’s also seventh in total points.
He stuck with the team for nearly a decade and became one of the most prolific scorers in franchise history.
19. Tom Gola
Nicknamed “Mr. All-Around,” Tom Gola did everything for the Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors. He played seven seasons for the franchise from 1955-62. Playing with great players, Gola elevated his game to match them.
Goal averaged just 13.8 points per game during his seven years as a Warrior, but he also averaged 8 rebounds and 4.2 assists which, for a shooting guard, is fantastic. The team had a bunch of scorers. His was there to do everything else. He was a great defender during his career.
He was an All-Star four years in a row and an All-NBA Second Team member (oddly enough, in a year that he wasn’t an All-Star). He helped the Warriors win the championship in 1956. He retired in 1959 after suffering a knee injury for a brief moment. But he returned to the team and helped them make a run at another championship until they ran into the powerhouse Boston Celtics.
His play and willingness to sacrifice made him one of the most important players during a special time of Warriors basketball. He is one of two Warriors to record three consecutive triple-doubles.
Gola’s desire to do whatever the team needed him for in order to win–including playing through an injury–makes him one of the greatest Warriors ever.
18. Jason Richardson
For many Warriors fans, Jason Richardson is a lot higher than 19. And I wouldn’t blame you if you think this is way too low. That’s how great Richardson was. He was the best thing the Warriors had when they were at their lowest. J-Rich made tuning into Warriors games worth it.
He averaged 18.3 points per game as a Warrior and had two seasons averaging over 20 points. Until the Splash Brothers came around, Richardson was the Warriors’ all-time leader in made three-pointers. He wasn’t nearly as efficient as they are, but he could knock down the long ball.
He could attack from outside, but his speciality was inside. Richardson is one of the greatest dunkers of all-time. He joined Michael Jordan as the only two players to win consecutive Slam Dunk Contests (Nate Robinson and Zach Lavine have since done so as well). His performances will always be remembered.
Richardson developed a special connection with the fans. During an era of Warriors basketball where everyone gave up on the team and the fans, he played hard every night. After failing to make the playoffs again after the 2005-06 season, he took out an ad in the newspaper apologizing to fans. Then he helped lead Golden State during the incredible “We Believe” season.
He played six seasons with the team and he was fantastic in each of them. J-Rich was one of the most exciting players to suit up for the Warriors. And he’s earned himself a special place in Golden State fans’ hearts (so much so that the team honored his retirement with a ceremony last year).
17. Andre Iguodala
Andre Iguodala is entering his fourth year as a Golden State Warrior, but he’s definitely earned his spot on this list. He’s been one of the key members of some of the best teams in NBA history. He’s done things that not a lot of Warriors have done.
Following the Warriors’ upset of the third-seeded Denver Nuggets in the 2013 Playoffs, Iguodala chose to sign with the enemy. He immediately fit in, doing all of the right things to help Golden State get back to the playoffs. Unfortunately, injuries were too much for the team to overcome and they fell in the first round.
The next season, the 2014-15 year, Iguodala made one of the biggest moves of his career: he went to the bench. After Harrison Barnes struggled coming off the bench, Steve Kerr felt that Barnes starting and Iguodala providing veteran leadership with the second unit was the best move. The former All-Star had never come off the bench before, at any level. He agreed.
He made his first All-NBA Defensive team in 2014. Things always went right with Iguodala on the court, who hit several big shots during the season. In the NBA Finals, he was tasked with guarding LeBron James. After the Warriors went down 2-1, Kerr started him. Iguodala would do a wonderful job on the defensive end with James who isolated frequently. Iguodala did enough on the offensive end to win Finals MVP.
He will always be a part of Warriors’ history for being the Finals MVP in their first championship in forty years. He’s a great talent that has a chance at solidifying a Hall of Fame career in the Bay Area.
16. Latrell Sprewell
Latrell Sprewell is one of the most polarizing figures in Golden State Warriors (and probably NBA) history. His negative reputation precedes him. His choking incident with head coach P.J. Carlesimo will forever remain as one of the craziest stories in league history.
But if we look beyond that, we can really see how spectacular Sprewell was during his time as a Warrior. While the advanced metrics don’t necessarily support calling his Warriors’ tenure successful, he was very solid in his six seasons in the Bay Area.
He was a three-time All-Star. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team, alongside John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1993-94. That same year, Sprewell was also selected to the Second Team All-Defense.
For his career as a Warrior, he averaged 20.1 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. He played 40 minutes per game on average and, in ’93-94, played all 82 games while spending 43.1 minutes per game on the court. In the playoffs during that season, he played 40 minutes per contest and posted averages of 22.7 points, 7.0 assets, and 3.0 rebounds.
He led Golden State to the playoffs once, but the team had a lot of turnover during his time with the team and they couldn’t find continued success. Individually, he was excellent. Unfortunately, his attitude and incident with Carlesimo have overshadowed Sprewell’s talent and strong tenure with the team.
15. Joe Barry Carroll
Unfortunately for Joe Barry Carroll, context overshadows a really good career. Prior to the 1980 Draft, the Warriors traded away Robert Parish and the pick that turned into Kevin McHale in order to acquire the top pick. There was little Carroll could have done to alleviate the pain of the realization that one of the most dominant teams in league history was formed because of you.
Carroll played seven really solid seasons with the team. He was better than Parish ever was as a Warrior. He became a really dominant center on both ends of the floor. He was a fantastic scorer with the ability to protect the paint better than anyone in franchise history until Adonal Foyle came around.
During his rookie season, he was named to the All-Rookie team by averaging 18.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He increased his efficiency the next season, but his numbers were mostly same across the board. Then he averaged over 20 points per game over his next four seasons. He left to play in Italy during the 1984-85 NBA season, won a championship, then returned to the United States. In ’87, he was named an All-Star.
He’s fourth in offensive rebounds, third in defensive rebounds, and second in blocks in franchise history. His 20.4 points per game average is ninth highest in team history as well. He never became a Hall of Famer like McHale and Parrish, but he was a very good All-Star for the Warriors.
14. Jeff Mullins
Jeff Mullins played ten long years with the Warriors, both in San Francisco and Oakland. He went from an All-Star and a fantastic scorer to a role player and champion. He provided balance, helping the team by doing whatever it needed from him to win.
Over the course of his decade with the team, Mullins averaged 17.5, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Perhaps his best season came in 1968-69. He posted career highs in points (22.8) and rebounds (5.9) while still dishing out over four assists per game. He was named an All-Star that year as he helped lead the San Francisco Warriors to the playoffs. They eventually lost to Jerry West’s Los Angeles Lakers.
By the 1974-75 season, Mullins had taken a back seat to Rick Barry. He had a very limited role, playing just 17 minutes every night. In the NBA Finals against the Washington Bullets, he averaged a measly 8 points per night, just a season after averaging double that total. But still, he earned himself a ring.
Mullins was as three-time All-Star. He’s third in games played and sixth in total points in Warriors franchise history. His decade of service with the team left an impact on the team that ended with a championship title.
13. Sleepy Floyd
NBA fans got to witness some of the most incredible postseason play in NBA history during last year’s playoffs. There were individual records being set. And still,nothing came all that close to what Sleepy Floyd did during his career.
Floyd has the record for most points in a postseason quarter and half. In Game 4 of the 1987 Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Floyd lit them up for 29 points in the fourth quarter and 39 points in the half. It was a spectacular performance against Magic Johnson and the eventual NBA champion Lakers.
While the Warriors still fell to Los Angeles (4-1), Floyd single-handedly helped prevent the sweep in one of the most incredible postseason performances ever. The record still stands to this day. With all of the great players to shine during the postseason–from Michael Jordan to LeBron James to Stephen Curry–it’s Sleepy Floyd who holds those records.
But Floyd’s impact goes beyond just one game. His Warriors’ career outside of that amazing game was solid. In six seasons, he averaged 17.7 points and 6.7 assists per game while shooting nearly 47 percent from the field. These were all career highs. In the 1986-87 season, Floyd was named an All-Star.
He was a good player during his time in the Bay Area and he immortalized himself with his jaw-dropping performance against one of the most dominant teams to ever step on a basketball court.
12. Baron Davis
Maybe this one is a little biased. I love Baron Davis. He was my favorite player growing up. So if you have a problem with Boom Dizzle being this high then you’ll just have to fight 12 year-old Carlos.
Davis was traded to the Warriors in 2005 after the tension between the point guard and the Charlotte Hornets grew. The move paired him with Jason Richardson and formed what could be one of the best backcourts in the league. He continued to deal with injuries, but once he put it all together, it was magical.
The 2006-07 Golden State Warriors season is one of the greatest individual campaigns in NBA history and you can’t tell me (or sixth-grade me) otherwise. Davis carried the Warriors to a 42-40 record and their first playoff berth in over a decade. He averaged 20.1 points, 8.1 assists, and a league-high 2.1 steals per game.
Davis was brilliant in the playoffs. He averaged 25.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. He shot over 51 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. But the numbers can’t quantify just how special he was.
He was everywhere on the court. He was crossing someone over, finishing with finesse at the rim, or making threes from all over. He lead the Warriors past the 67-win Dallas Mavericks with the MVP in Dirk Nowitzki. The Warriors fell to the bigger Utah Jazz, but not before Davis threw down the greatest dunk in franchise history over Andrei Kirilenko.
Davis helped revitalize basketball in the Bay Area. He inspired a generation of fans to fall in love with the game, myself included. He played just four seasons with the Warriors, but he gave us an infinite amount of memories in his last two.
He is second in franchise history in offensive box plus/minus. He has the best beard in NBA history and has a special place in Warriors’ history.
11. Draymond Green
Yup. Draymond Green is the 11th greatest Warrior of all-time. And you will accept it.
I know it seems odd placing a guy who averages 12.3 points and 9.2 rebounds for his career this high up on the list, but that’s the beauty of Draymond Green. He’s hard to quantify. Numbers will never do him justice.
He is the heart and soul of some of the greatest teams in NBA history. He’s a winner. He has been instrumental in the culture shift in the Bay Area. Everything about Draymond Green screams (sometimes literally) Warrior.
Green is been named to All-Star, All-NBA, and First Team All-Defense. He’s an NBA champion and Olympic Gold medalist. He was the second best player on a 73 win team. He’s the other player besides Gola to record three straight triple-doubles in team history. But, again, he’s so much more than that.
He’s revolutionizing the way that people think of the game of basketball. He’s an undersized power forward that dominates at the center position. He’s the glue that keeps some of the most creative and effective leagues in league history together. He’s taken the idea of small-ball and executed it to perfection, using incredible defensive abilities to really maximize those lineups.
Green is going to be a Warrior for a long time. He’s already one of the best players in the entire league. He’s developed from a late second round pick to a legitimate star who would have surely been in line to win Finals MVP if his team held on in 2016.
Draymond Green embodies the essence of the Warriors. This might seem like recency bias to some, but Green’s resumé and impact on the game as a whole make this an easy call.
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.
9. Klay Thompson
Again, this might seem like recency bias. But Klay Thompson is the real deal. And he’s already one of the best to do it in a Golden State Warriors uniform.
Thompson would be the undeniable best shooter on the planet if it wasn’t for his teammate. His range and confidence are deadly. He can get hot in an instant and take over a game like very few in the league can.
Like Green, he’s already accomplished a lot. He’s been a vital piece to the Warriors’ great success over the last few years. The Warriors wouldn’t have been able to construct their high-powered offense and stifling defense without their two-way star.
Thompson has been magnificent since he became a full-time starter after Monta Ellis was traded away. He’s helped form the deadliest shooting backcourt the league has ever seen. He’s added to his game every year in the league until he became a premier player.
He’s put out some of the greatest performances any of us have ever seen. His 37 point quarter against the Sacramento Kings was incredible and it might be a mark that will never be touched again. He sunk a record 11 three-pointers in Game 6 in a must-win game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
Thompson is also building an impressive resumé. He’s won just as much as Green has while adding an extra All-Star appearance and All-NBA selection. He’s one of the best shooters to ever pick up a basketball.
Klay Thompson is all about business and he’s putting himself into position to have a Hall of Fame career.
8. Paul Arizin
Paul Arizin played ten seasons with the Philadelphia Warriors and he was absolutely dominant in every single one of them. His career spanned from 1950-1962, but he didn’t play from ’52-54 because of his military service. He came back to the NBA and picked up where he left off.
He was named the Rookie of the Year after averaging 17.2 points and 9.8 rebounds. Arizin was an All-Star every single season that he played and he won the MVP of the game in 1952. He was selected to four All-NBA teams (four First-Team, one Second-Team honors).
Arizin was one of the most gifted offensive players of his time, known for his jump shot. The 6’4 small forward averaged 22.8 points and 8.6 rebounds throughout his career. When he retired, he had the third highest total in the league’s (short) history.
He averaged 27.6 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 42 percent shooting as he helped the Warriors defeat the Detroit Pistons in the 1956 Finals. He had 138 points in the five-game series. The next player on his team had 69.
Arizin was named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All-Time. He dominated the better part of a decade. He won a championship and is third on the Warriors’ all-time scoring list.
7. Tim Hardaway
And the second member of Run-TMC appears! Tim Hardaway was a truly special talent. The point guard was masterful with the ball in his hands.
He was the 14th overall pick in the 1989 Draft. Instantly, he made an impact, being named to the All-Rookie team the year after Richmond won Rookie of the Year. Hardaway would become one of the most exciting players in the league.
The Warriors ran a very fast-paced offense that allowed the point guard to flash his handle and court vision. Hardaway absolutely changed the game forever with his killer crossover: the “UTEP two-step.” He dazzles fans, scared defenders, and got to the rim.
He played five and a half seasons before being traded (not including 1993-94 season that he missed due to knee injury). He was an All-Star three times. He was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team and Third Team during his Warriors career.
He averaged 19.8 points and 9.8 assists per game for his whole Golden State career. He finished eighth in MVP voting in 1992 when he averaged 23.4 points and 10 assists per game on 46 percent shooting. The only person that reached 5,000 points and 2,500 assists faster than Hardaway was Oscar Robertson.
Hardaway is second in franchise history in assists, fourth in Value Over Replacement, and third in steals per game. The Hall of Fame hopeful was one of the leaders one some of the most exciting Warriors teams in history. His impact on the franchise and the game will be felt forever.
6. Neil Johnston
Neil Johnston isn’t a name that automatically comes to mind when you think of greatest Warriors ever. But he was dynamic during his time with the team. Johnston played from 1951-59, playing alongside Arizin for all of his career.
Johnston wasn’t the scorer that Arizin was, but he was close. For his career, he averaged 19.4 points per game, but that’s simply because his career was bookended by two seasons with roughly 6 points per game. His last year was cut short due to injury.
At 6’8, he was a fantastic rebounder, averaging 11.3 boards per game. Johnston was an efficient scorer. He used his size and his hook shot to shoot over 44 percent for his career and well over 45 percent for certain seasons.
He led the league in both scoring and rebounding in the 1954-55 season. He was named an All-Star that year, an honor that earned five other times. He led the league in win shares for five straight seasons. He was a workhorse as well, leading the league in minutes twice when he played over 45 minutes per contest.
Johnston won a championship in 1956. He’s in the top-10 in a lot of categories in franchise history including minutes, points, rebounds, and free throws. He was arguably the best player in the league for several years.
5. Nate Thurmond
Nate Thurmond is simply one of the greatest centers to suit up for anyone. If it wasn’t for another guy on this list, Nate the Great would get the shine he deserves. He played eleven great seasons with the Warriors.
In his first season, Thurmond was named to the All-Rookie team in 1964 after averaging 7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He broke out his sophomore season, scoring 16.5 points and grabbing 18.1 boards per game. He started his run of dominance.
Few men have ever rebounded the ball like Thurmond did. He’s tenth in NBA history in total rebounds. He’s one of five players in league history to average at least 15 boards per game for a career.
Only five players have ever averaged at least 20 rebounds per game in a single season and Thurmond did it twice. He’s one of four players to grab at least 40 rebounds in a single game as he hauled in 42 misses against the Detroit Pistons in 1965. Perhaps just as impressive as Thompson’s 37 point quarter is Thurmond’s record 18 rebound quarter.
He was an incredibly physical and intelligent player. He was a seven-time All-Star with the Warriors, in addition to being named to two First Team All-Defense and two Second Team All-Defense selections.
Thurmond is perhaps one of the most underrated players in league history. He was a force on the defensive end of the floor while also averaging at least 20 points per game for five straight years. He could do it all.
Thurmond was a great basketball player and an even better person. He hung around the team even after his retirement and his no. 42 was retired by the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He passed away this summer after a battle with leukemia. He’s probably boxing out some angels right now.
4. Chris Mullin
And now, we have the “C” in Run-TMC. Chris Mullin was a smooth dude. And a killer on the court.
He was a special offensive talent. Mullin could put the ball in the basket effortlessly. He was one of the best scorers in his time as he led the Warriors to five straight postseason appearances.
For his Golden State career, the lefty averaged 20.1 points per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field. He scored at least 25 points per contest from 1988-1993. He thrived in Don Nelson’s offense, alongside Hardaway and Richmond.
He was a five-time All-Star with the Warriors. He also won his second gold medal as a member of the iconic Dream Team in 1992. He also made four All-NBA teams, including First Team in ’92.
The other two members of Run-TMC were spectacular, but Mullin was clearly the best. He was a knock-down shooter that shot over 45 percent from three for several years in his career. He was a star.
Mullin has had his number “17” jersey retired by the Warriors and rightfully so. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011 and it was all because of his incredible 13 years in the Bay Area. He was the leader of some of the most dazzling and potent offensive teams in league history during an important time for Warriors basketball. No one has played
Chris Mullin is an NBA legend that elevated to star status as a Warrior. His smooth left-handed jumper, his Brooklyn accent, and his trademark flat top made him a beloved player in the Bay Area and one of the best to ever do it.
3. Rick Barry
Rick Barry is in the upper echelon of basketball players. He was unconventional and it absolutely worked for him. That’s why he’s third on this list.
Barry did it all during his eight NBA seasons with the Warriors, on both sides of the Bay. He averaged 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.3 steals on over 45 percent shooting. He was elite on both ends of the floor.
He was an All-Star in each of his eight seasons, winning All-Star MVP in 1967. Barry was the Rookie of the Year and the scoring champ in his second season in the league after averaging 35.6 points per contest. He would be on the All-NBA First Team five times and Second Team once.
The 6’7 Barry was a prolific scorere, from nearly anywhere on the court. Where he truly excelled was at the free-throw line. His unconventional underhanded free throw looks silly, but it worked a lot. He’s one of the greatest free-throw shooters ever, hitting 89.6 percent of his freebies as a Warrior. For critics, his form is the go-to solution to a current player’s struggles.
What really makes Barry such a special figure in Warriors history is his work in bringing the team a championship. He failed in 1976, averaging 40.8 points per game in that series, but he lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. In the 1974-75 season, he averaged 30 points per game with league highs in steals (2.9) and free-throw percentage (90.2 percent). Then he won Finals MVP as the Warriors upset the favorite Washington Bullets in four games.
The Warriors retired “24” to honor the great Barry. He was a stellar player that, despite being hot-headed sometimes, brought it. He was a fantastic scorer who could do everything else on the court as well. He’s near the top in so many categories on the franchise leaderboards, including second in points per game.
Barry is an NBA legend for his style of play and his results thus making this an easy call.
2. Wilt Chamberlain
This isn’t going to be a popular decision. Wilt Chamberlain is probably the best player to suit up for the Warriors, but he’s not the best Warrior. Yup, there’s a distinction and it matters.
Chamberlain played six seasons for the Warriors and he had some of the most spectacular individual campaigns anyone has ever seen. He averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds in the 1961-62 season. He established himself as the most dominant player (probably ever) as a Warrior.
He was named Rookie of the Year, All-Star Game MVP, and NBA MVP in the same season in 1959-60. He was a monster, putting up numbers that you couldn’t even match in a video game. He reached milestones and set records that will never be broken.
Chamberlain is the reason some of these other guy’s aren’t higher. He couldn’t deliver the team a championship (partly because of Bill Russell’s Celtics) and he overshadowed many of his contemporaries with his otherworldly abilities. He was ridiculous.
The most unbelievable feat in NBA history came with Chamberlain in a Warriors jersey. His 100 point night against the New York Knicks in 1962 is legendary, to say the least. It’s a mark that will never be touched.
Chamberlain is one of the best, there’s no doubt about it. But his poor attitude, seemingly selfish philosophy, and lack of a championship kept him from being at the top of this list. His greatness cannot be understated and he’s at the top of so many franchise leaderboards, but he’s not the greatest Warrior.
1. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is the greatest Golden State Warrior in history. Sure, Chamberlain had the better career. But Steph Curry is the quintessential Warrior.
When you think of the Chicago Bulls, you think of Michael Jordan. When you think of the Boston Celtics, you think of Larry Bird. When you think of the Cleveland Cavaliers, you think of
Matthew Dellavedova
LeBron James. When you think of the Golden State Warriors, you think of Wardell Stephen Curry II.
He’s done everything that can be done in a Warriors uniform. He’s an All-Star, a Skills Challenge winner, and a Three-Point Contest champion. He’s a two-time MVP and the first player to be selected unanimously. He’s a champion. He’s the face of the NBA and the Golden State Warriors.
Curry turned the franchise around. He transformed the team from a laughingstock to the standard. The team used to settle for 25 wins per season; he pushed them to win 73. He made excellence the norm.
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He’s one of the most spectacular players to ever lace them up. He’s changing the game in ways that only a few men ever have. His impact on the very fabric of basketball can be reasonably compared to what Russell, “Pistol” Pete Maravich, Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal each did.
What he means to this region, the team, and the NBA is unparalleled. He’s dominating at a historic level and he’s on pace to have one of the greatest careers ever. It’s his world and we’re just living in it.
Steph Curry is Golden State.