With the 2022-23 season having come to an end, we look back and review every player that took to the floor for the Golden State Warriors. Players will be ranked on performance, with some of that based on preseason expectations.
Heading into his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors, there was very slight expectation on Ryan Rollins after being selected with the 44th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The franchise had paid up to acquire the 6’3″ guard, sending cash and the 51st pick to the Atlanta Hawks to obtain his rights.
Rollins was coming off a two-year college stint at Toledo, the second of which saw him lead the Rockets with 18.9 points, six rebounds and 3.6 assists on 46.8% shooting from the floor. The Warriors’ decision not to add another more experienced point-guard to their main roster was a potential sign that Rollins was more ready-to-go than first thought. But in reality, that wasn’t the case as the 20-year-old unsurprisingly struggled to make an impact with Golden State.
An injury interrupted rookie season has put Ryan Rollins on the back foot as he looks to develop his career at the Golden State Warriors.
Rollins played primarily garbage time minutes throughout the first half of the season, but saw a season-high 17 minutes when Golden State visited New Orleans without their core players on November 21. He had three points and three rebounds in that outing, also recording three fouls and five turnovers in the Warriors’ 45-point loss.
With the Warriors having signed Ty Jerome to a two-way deal, Rollins failed to garner playing opportunity even with a December injury to Stephen Curry. Instead, he spent the majority of his time in the G League at Santa Cruz, displaying some positive signs for the future.
Rollins played 19 total showcase and regular season games in the G League, averaging 19.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on an efficient 49.5% from the floor and 36.4% from three-point range.
But just as he was starting to build some real form and momentum in Santa Cruz, Rollins was again struck down by a foot injury. He had previously missed Summer League as he recovered from a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, and that same bone suffered a Jones fracture that saw him undertake season-ending surgery on February 6.
With a quick first step and a solid perimeter shot, Rollins has the talent to develop into a bonafide NBA player. The Warriors will be hoping he can grow into a similar version of Jordan Poole, yet given the guard-heavy nature of their roster, one has to question whether they really need that anyway?
Rollins is owed $1.7 million next season, then has a partially guaranteed deal for 2023-24. His initial selection raised eyebrows given the young pieces the Warriors already had on their roster, and he may be a casualty if the franchise sets about focusing more on their current timeline.