7 Players the Golden State Warriors gave up on way too soon

1.Chris Webber

NBA teams need always remember that it’s easier to get a new coach than it is to get a new star player. And this cautionary tale with Chris Webber is evidence of exactly that.

Webber was drafted by the Warriors but ultimately had play-style conflicts with then coach of the Warriors, Don Nelson. Rather than stick with their eventual hall-of-fame player and eventual league-wide star, they decided to trade him to the Washington Bullets for a handful of 1st-round picks.

Weber’s accomplishments across his career? 5x All-star, 5x All-NBA, and 1x rebounding champion. He would go on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

During that same span? The Warriors would have two winning seasons throughout the rest of Webber’s career. And while it’s hard to say for sure what would have happened had Webber remained in Golden State for his career, it is likely that it would have been better than two total winning seasons.

The Top 30 Golden State Warriors players in franchise history (Updated 2023)

The Golden State Warriors have been one of the best franchises in history. That said, let's dive into who has defined them throughout their time in the NBA.