Blue Man Hoop
Fansided

Warriors: Could the 2020 NBA draft be as successful as the 2012 class?

By Christian Evans

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 11: Kevon Looney #5, Klay Thompson #11 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate after a basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls at ORACLE Arena on January 11, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 11: Kevon Looney #5, Klay Thompson #11 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate after a basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls at ORACLE Arena on January 11, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

The 2012 Golden State Warriors draft class is widely viewed as the class that set the Dubs up for championship success. Could the 2020 class have a similar impact?

The Golden State Warriors dramatically transformed their fortune in 2012 after selecting Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli and Draymond Green.

Those moves combined with a young backcourt pairing of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and a superbly executed sign & trade with Andre Iguodala helped the Warriors win their first NBA title in 40 years.

In many ways, the draft helped bring Kevin Durant to Golden State in 2016.

The Warriors shamelessly tanked in 2012 to retain their top seven protected first-round pick, holding onto the pick by the slimmest of margins earning the seventh overall pick in the draft. The tanking has some parallels with what transpired in the 2019-20 season.

After Stephen Curry’s hand injury at the start of the 2019-20 season, combined with Klay Thompson’s season-ending ACL injury the Dubs endured a mini rebuild and earned the second overall pick as a result.

Few teams have had an opportunity like the Warriors have.

Adding a potentially elite talent to a core featuring Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins. Nonetheless, by adding a top-two talent the Dubs could inject new life into their dynasty like the San Antonio Spurs once did.

2012 was a game-changer in terms of transforming the Warriors back into Finals contention. Could this class help extend the Warriors dynasty?

Home/Warriors News