13 Players the Golden State Warriors signed past their prime
By Tyler Watts
3. Mark Price
Price was one of the NBA’s best point guards in the Michael Jordan era. His Cavaliers could never get past the Bulls, but the six-footer produced the second 50-40-90 season in league history in 1989 when he shot 52.6 percent from the field, 44.1 percent on his threes, and 90.1 percent from the foul line. That was his first of four All-Star years and arguably his best.
From 1989 to 1994, Price averaged 18.2 points, 8.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 33.4 minutes per game. He was an elite shooter that is often credited with popularizing splitting a double team in the pick-and-roll. The six-foot point guard was always doubting coming into the league, but that did not stop him from transforming into an elite player.
Injuries slowed Price’s career in his 30s. The Cavaliers traded him to the Washington Bullets in 1995, but a foot injury limited him to just seven games the following season. He became a free agent in the summer of 1996, and the Golden State Warriors were looking for a point guard upgrade.
Price played 70 games during his lone season in the Bay Area where he averaged 11.3 points, 4.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steal in 26.8 minutes per game. The 32-year-old was no longer in his prime, and the Warriors struggled to just 30 wins.
Price was traded to Orlando in the 1997 offseason where his production dipped further in his final NBA season. Dubs fans did not see the best of the point guard, but the Cavaliers legend was still productive by the time he landed in the Bay Area.