Will Richard capped off a surprisingly productive rookie season on a disappointing note. When the stakes were at their highest — with the Golden State Warriors battling to keep their season alive against the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns in the Play-In tournament — the second-round pick out of Florida stayed glued to the bench.
Richard's only playing time came in Phoenix when all hope had already vanished. Richard subbed in for Draymond Green with 1:06 left on the clock in the fourth quarter with his team down 16 points.
Despite the bad taste this last stretch left in the 24-year-old's mouth, his first season in the league brimmed with promise and potential. Second-rounders — especially the ones selected late like Richard was at 56 — aren't expected to contribute much in their debut season, or at all. Richard, who appeared in 69 games (third-most on the team), including 21 starts, put together a 30-point game and was a factor — especially during the first couple of months.
Will Richard showed impressive flashes in his rookie season
The former Gator averaged over eight points a night and shot 38.6% from three in just under 20 minutes per game over his first 30 contests. The next few months turned out to be more challenging, as Richard dealt with the famous "rookie wall" — a hurdle most rookies have to overcome. Part of the reason Richard hit that wall can be explained by the demands of life in the NBA — the travel, the pace or the mental toll — along with the intensity of an 82-game season. By winning the national championship with Florida, he endured a long season in college and participated in the Summer League in early July. The fatigue was there.
“It was rough,” Richard told Monte Poole on an episode of Dubs Talk when discussing the rookie wall. "There was games where I don't know if I have it, but I'm just going to go out here and play as hard as I can and see if something good happens."
While he managed to stay on the floor, Richard averaged over 20 minutes per game in his last 39 games, the offensive production dipped. His scoring average fell to five points a game and his effectiveness from beyond the arc sank to 28.6%. So when the team's season was on the line, Steve Kerr went with other options. Richard used it as fuel during the offseason.
"I didn't play the last few games of the season and that was kind of my motivational drive towards the offseason," he said. "Just working on things that I know will get me on the floor in those playoff/ play-in games next year."
His defense was what got him on the floor in the first place, but Richard also wanted to home in on becoming a more consistent shooter. So he and the coaching staff mapped out a summer plan. And after enjoying a couple of weeks off in his hometown, Atlanta, Richard was back in the lab putting in the work. A usual week is composed of five to six workouts, mixed in with a couple of hot yoga sessions, something he took up back in college.
Here is what his typical workout day looks like: he starts off his day with some treatment before heading to the weight room for around an hour and a half. Then, he gets out on the court for about an hour. During that time, he mainly focuses on ball handling, movement shooting, finishing at the rim, and attacking closeouts. But Richard didn't limit his development to on-court work, so he leaned on a few veterans to delve into specific areas of the game. Not just any veterans, though. The cream of the crop.
Will Richard has leant on Warrior legends this offseason
For defense, he peppered his teammate Draymond Green, a DPOY winner, with questions. Communication and leadership are areas in which the young player wants to take a step forward, so he asked former Warrior Andre Iguodala for a few pointers. As for his shot, Richard got to experience one of Steph Curry's famous workouts. One session with No. 30 — the intensity he practiced with along with his attention to detail — was enough to change the way he perceives workouts.
"It's just a different level," he said. "You see why what he does it works for him and why he's been so successful in his career."
His first opportunity to show the work he had already put in came in the shape of Summer League. And he looked ready. His shot looked smoother, he had added a few pounds of muscle to his frame, and he acted as a leader. Not only through his play, but also with his voice. The Warriors ended up winning it all in Las Vegas with Richard going 9-for-19 (47.3%) from three and averaging 1.6 steals over the five games.
With one NBA season under his belt, Richard was one of the veterans of that young group. But when training camp tips off next week, he'll be back in the "inexperienced players" category. It doesn't mean he can't lead or make an impact, though, because he's going to receive a lot of opportunities to do so, to put all his hard work on display.
With the injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, a big part of the Warriors' success in the first half will rely on those inexperienced players' ability to step up and contribute night in and night out. If Richard wants his sophomore season in the NBA to end differently than his rookie one, proving to his coaching staff that he fits the bill is the recipe.
This much is clear: he spent the summer stacking the odds in his favor.
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