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Golden State Warriors: Top 20 Draft Picks in History

By Ryan Viera

March 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; 1975 NBA Championship Golden State Warriors team members Clifford Ray (left), Rick Barry (center), and Jamaal Wilkes (right) address the media in a press conference before the game between the Warriors and the Washington Wizards at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; 1975 NBA Championship Golden State Warriors team members Clifford Ray (left), Rick Barry (center), and Jamaal Wilkes (right) address the media in a press conference before the game between the Warriors and the Washington Wizards at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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6. Draymond Green

If we wanted to make a list strictly off of draft value and not factor in actual skill level, Draymond Green may be number one. 34 players were picked ahead of Green in the 2012 Draft including Kendall Marshall, Fab Melo, Tony Wroten, and Jeffery Taylor, none of which are currently signed to an NBA roster. Even the Warriors passed on Green twice in favor of Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli, both formidable players but neither of which are of Draymond’s caliber.

Green’s career got off to a bit of a slow start, starting just 13 games combined in his first two seasons. An injury to starting power forward David Lee early in the 2014-2015 season opened the door for Draymond to snag a starting roll, and once he did, he never gave it back.

In each of Green’s five full seasons, he has dramatically improved in nearly every aspect of his game. He shot 20.9 percent from three his rookie season. Last year he striped close to 40 percent of his long balls, the highest of his career. He also upped his scoring average year-after-year, scoring 2.9 points per game his rookie season, to 14 last year. The most eye-popping part of Draymond’s game is his ability to be such a key playmaker for the Dubs. Last season he led the team in assists at 7.4 per game, and is doing so again this year dishing an average 7.4 helpers yet again. Oh, and by the way, he’s a power forward.

Draymond’s game however, does not revolve around the offensive side of the floor. In fact, playmaking may be his second best trait behind defense. He has finished runner-up in the Defensive Player of the Year award for two-straight seasons, one of which he actually earned more first place votes than winner Kawhi Leonard.

Draymond may not always fill up the stat sheet, but one thing you can expect every time he steps out on the floor is passion, unmatched energy, and hustle.

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