Golden State Warriors 1964-1965 stats

NBA

Player Height Age Pts Reb Ast GP W-L MIN 3P% FG% FT% Or Reb Ast Stl To Blk Fo Pts Eff PTS REB AST
Wilt Chamberlain 2m16 28 38.9 23.5 3.1 38 10-28 45.7 - 49.9% 41.8% 0 23.5 3.1 0 0 0 2 38.9 0 63 40 6
Nate Thurmond 2m12 23 16.5 18.1 2 77 17-60 41.2 - 41.9% 65.5% 0 18.1 2 0 0 0 3 16.5 0 32 37 6
Guy Rodgers 1m84 29 14.6 4.1 7.2 79 17-62 34.2 - 38% 68.4% 0 4.1 7.2 0 0 0 3.2 14.6 0 29 12 16
Tom Meschery 1m98 26 12.7 8.3 1.3 79 16-63 30.5 - 39.4% 75.1% 0 8.3 1.3 0 0 0 3.5 12.7 0 32 17 5
Paul Neumann 1m85 26 10.8 2.7 2.6 36 6-30 25.9 - 45% 72.3% 0 2.7 2.6 0 0 0 2.8 10.8 0 25 8 6
Alvin Attles 1m85 28 9.3 3.3 2.8 73 14-59 23.8 - 38.4% 63.1% 0 3.3 2.8 0 0 0 3.3 9.3 0 32 9 9
Wayne Hightower 2m03 24 8.4 5.1 0.8 48 11-37 21.6 - 34.3% 76.9% 0 5.1 0.8 0 0 0 3 8.4 0 24 14 4
McCoy McLemore 2m01 22 8.3 6.1 1.1 78 16-62 22.2 - 33.7% 71.2% 0 6.1 1.1 0 0 0 2.9 8.3 0 22 18 4
Connie Dierking 2m05 28 8 6.5 1 30 5-25 18.5 - 42.7% 54.1% 0 6.5 1 0 0 0 2.1 8 0 30 19 5
Gary Phillips 1m92 25 7.1 2.6 2 73 14-59 21 - 35.8% 59.7% 0 2.6 2 0 0 0 2.5 7.1 0 29 7 6
John Rudometkin 1m98 24 6 4.2 0.7 22 4-18 16.1 - 33.6% 68% 0 4.2 0.7 0 0 0 2.2 6 0 18 12 4
George Lee 1m93 28 5 3.1 0.7 18 5-13 13.6 - 33.8% 73.1% 0 3.1 0.7 0 0 0 1.2 5 0 26 9 2
Bud Koper 1m98 22 4.6 1.1 0.8 54 10-44 11.7 - 44% 83.3% 0 1.1 0.8 0 0 0 1.1 4.6 0 16 5 3
Cotton Nash 1m96 22 4.2 2.4 0.5 20 4-16 10 - 37.5% 90% 0 2.4 0.5 0 0 0 1.4 4.2 0 10 6 2
Barry Kramer 1m94 22 3.1 1.8 0.8 33 8-25 8.4 - 36% 68.2% 0 1.8 0.8 0 0 0 1.1 3.1 0 10 6 3
Gary Hill 1m93 23 3 1.7 0.7 9 3-6 9.8 - 28.6% 50% 0 1.7 0.7 0 0 0 1.1 3 0 7 4 3
Total 105.8 63 20.7 80 17-63 241.9 - 40.3% 64% 0 63 20.7 0 0 0 25.1 105.8 0
Opponents 112 62.1 24 80 - 241.5 - 42.1% 74.2% 0 62.1 24 0 0 0 25.2 112 0
Gap -6,2 0,9 -3,3 0 - 0.4 0% -1,8% -10,2% 0 0,9 -3,3 0 0 0 -0,1 -6,2 0
Average
height
197 cm
Average
age
25 years old
Player Height Age Pts Reb Ast GP W-L MIN 2P 3P FG FT Reb Ast Stl Blk Fo Pts Eff
Wilt Chamberlain 2m16 28 1480 893 117 38 10-28 1738 636/1275 0/0 636/1275 208/498 0 893 117 0 0 0 76 1480 -
Nate Thurmond 2m12 23 1274 1395 157 77 17-60 3170 520/1240 0/0 520/1240 234/357 0 1395 157 0 0 0 232 1274 -
Guy Rodgers 1m84 29 1153 323 565 79 17-62 2698 465/1225 0/0 465/1225 223/326 0 323 565 0 0 0 256 1153 -
Tom Meschery 1m98 26 1000 655 106 79 16-63 2411 361/917 0/0 361/917 278/370 0 655 106 0 0 0 279 1000 -
Paul Neumann 1m85 26 390 96 94 36 6-30 934 152/338 0/0 152/338 86/119 0 96 94 0 0 0 99 390 -
Alvin Attles 1m85 28 679 239 204 73 14-59 1741 254/661 0/0 254/661 171/271 0 239 204 0 0 0 242 679 -
Wayne Hightower 2m03 24 405 247 39 48 11-37 1039 136/396 0/0 136/396 133/173 0 247 39 0 0 0 143 405 -
McCoy McLemore 2m01 22 646 479 83 78 16-62 1733 244/724 0/0 244/724 158/222 0 479 83 0 0 0 225 646 -
Connie Dierking 2m05 28 240 196 30 30 5-25 555 97/227 0/0 97/227 46/85 0 196 30 0 0 0 64 240 -
Gary Phillips 1m92 25 516 189 148 73 14-59 1534 198/553 0/0 198/553 120/201 0 189 148 0 0 0 184 516 -
John Rudometkin 1m98 24 132 92 16 22 4-18 354 49/146 0/0 49/146 34/50 0 92 16 0 0 0 49 132 -
George Lee 1m93 28 90 55 12 18 5-13 245 26/77 0/0 26/77 38/52 0 55 12 0 0 0 22 90 -
Bud Koper 1m98 22 247 61 43 54 10-44 633 106/241 0/0 106/241 35/42 0 61 43 0 0 0 60 247 -
Cotton Nash 1m96 22 84 48 9 20 4-16 200 33/88 0/0 33/88 18/20 0 48 9 0 0 0 27 84 -
Barry Kramer 1m94 22 102 59 26 33 8-25 276 36/100 0/0 36/100 30/44 0 59 26 0 0 0 36 102 -
Gary Hill 1m93 23 27 15 6 9 3-6 88 10/35 0/0 10/35 7/14 0 15 6 0 0 0 10 27 -
Total 8465 5042 1655 80 17-63 19349 3323/8243 - 3323/8243 1819/2844 0 5042 1655 0 0 0 2004 8465 -
Opponents 8959 4965 1917 80 - 19320 3449/8195 - 3449/8195 2061/2776 0 4965 1917 0 0 0 2013 8959 -
Gap -494 77 -262 0 - 29 -126/48 - -126/48 -242/68 0 77 -262 0 0 0 -9 -494 0
Player Height Age Pts Reb Ast GP W-L MIN 3P% FG% FT% Or Reb Ast Stl To Blk Fo Pts Eff PTS REB AST
Wilt Chamberlain 2m16 28 30.7 18.5 2.4 38 10-28 36 - 49.9% 41.8% 0 18.5 2.4 0 0 0 1.6 30.7 0 63 40 6
Nate Thurmond 2m12 23 14.5 15.8 1.8 77 17-60 36 - 41.9% 65.5% 0 15.8 1.8 0 0 0 2.6 14.5 0 32 37 6
Guy Rodgers 1m84 29 15.4 4.3 7.5 79 17-62 36 - 38% 68.4% 0 4.3 7.5 0 0 0 3.4 15.4 0 29 12 16
Tom Meschery 1m98 26 14.9 9.8 1.6 79 16-63 36 - 39.4% 75.1% 0 9.8 1.6 0 0 0 4.2 14.9 0 32 17 5
Paul Neumann 1m85 26 15 3.7 3.6 36 6-30 36 - 45% 72.3% 0 3.7 3.6 0 0 0 3.8 15 0 25 8 6
Alvin Attles 1m85 28 14 4.9 4.2 73 14-59 36 - 38.4% 63.1% 0 4.9 4.2 0 0 0 5 14 0 32 9 9
Wayne Hightower 2m03 24 14 8.6 1.4 48 11-37 36 - 34.3% 76.9% 0 8.6 1.4 0 0 0 5 14 0 24 14 4
McCoy McLemore 2m01 22 13.4 10 1.7 78 16-62 36 - 33.7% 71.2% 0 10 1.7 0 0 0 4.7 13.4 0 22 18 4
Connie Dierking 2m05 28 15.6 12.7 1.9 30 5-25 36 - 42.7% 54.1% 0 12.7 1.9 0 0 0 4.2 15.6 0 30 19 5
Gary Phillips 1m92 25 12.1 4.4 3.5 73 14-59 36 - 35.8% 59.7% 0 4.4 3.5 0 0 0 4.3 12.1 0 29 7 6
John Rudometkin 1m98 24 13.4 9.4 1.6 22 4-18 36 - 33.6% 68% 0 9.4 1.6 0 0 0 5 13.4 0 18 12 4
George Lee 1m93 28 13.2 8.1 1.8 18 5-13 36 - 33.8% 73.1% 0 8.1 1.8 0 0 0 3.2 13.2 0 26 9 2
Bud Koper 1m98 22 14 3.5 2.4 54 10-44 36 - 44% 83.3% 0 3.5 2.4 0 0 0 3.4 14 0 16 5 3
Cotton Nash 1m96 22 15.1 8.6 1.6 20 4-16 36 - 37.5% 90% 0 8.6 1.6 0 0 0 4.9 15.1 0 10 6 2
Barry Kramer 1m94 22 13.3 7.7 3.4 33 8-25 36 - 36% 68.2% 0 7.7 3.4 0 0 0 4.7 13.3 0 10 6 3
Gary Hill 1m93 23 11 6.1 2.5 9 3-6 36 - 28.6% 50% 0 6.1 2.5 0 0 0 4.1 11 0 7 4 3
Total 15.7 9.4 3.1 80 17-63 36 0% 40.3% 64% 0 9.4 3.1 0 0 0 3.7 15.7 0
Player Height Age Pts Reb Ast GP W-L MIN 3P% FG% FT% Or Reb Ast Stl To Blk Fo Pts Eff PTS REB AST
Wilt Chamberlain 2m16 28 34.1 20.6 2.7 38 10-28 40 - 49.9% 41.8% 0 20.6 2.7 0 0 0 1.7 34.1 0 63 40 6
Nate Thurmond 2m12 23 16.1 17.6 2 77 17-60 40 - 41.9% 65.5% 0 17.6 2 0 0 0 2.9 16.1 0 32 37 6
Guy Rodgers 1m84 29 17.1 4.8 8.4 79 17-62 40 - 38% 68.4% 0 4.8 8.4 0 0 0 3.8 17.1 0 29 12 16
Tom Meschery 1m98 26 16.6 10.9 1.8 79 16-63 40 - 39.4% 75.1% 0 10.9 1.8 0 0 0 4.6 16.6 0 32 17 5
Paul Neumann 1m85 26 16.7 4.1 4 36 6-30 40 - 45% 72.3% 0 4.1 4 0 0 0 4.2 16.7 0 25 8 6
Alvin Attles 1m85 28 15.6 5.5 4.7 73 14-59 40 - 38.4% 63.1% 0 5.5 4.7 0 0 0 5.6 15.6 0 32 9 9
Wayne Hightower 2m03 24 15.6 9.5 1.5 48 11-37 40 - 34.3% 76.9% 0 9.5 1.5 0 0 0 5.5 15.6 0 24 14 4
McCoy McLemore 2m01 22 14.9 11.1 1.9 78 16-62 40 - 33.7% 71.2% 0 11.1 1.9 0 0 0 5.2 14.9 0 22 18 4
Connie Dierking 2m05 28 17.3 14.1 2.2 30 5-25 40 - 42.7% 54.1% 0 14.1 2.2 0 0 0 4.6 17.3 0 30 19 5
Gary Phillips 1m92 25 13.5 4.9 3.9 73 14-59 40 - 35.8% 59.7% 0 4.9 3.9 0 0 0 4.8 13.5 0 29 7 6
John Rudometkin 1m98 24 14.9 10.4 1.8 22 4-18 40 - 33.6% 68% 0 10.4 1.8 0 0 0 5.5 14.9 0 18 12 4
George Lee 1m93 28 14.7 9 2 18 5-13 40 - 33.8% 73.1% 0 9 2 0 0 0 3.6 14.7 0 26 9 2
Bud Koper 1m98 22 15.6 3.9 2.7 54 10-44 40 - 44% 83.3% 0 3.9 2.7 0 0 0 3.8 15.6 0 16 5 3
Cotton Nash 1m96 22 16.8 9.6 1.8 20 4-16 40 - 37.5% 90% 0 9.6 1.8 0 0 0 5.4 16.8 0 10 6 2
Barry Kramer 1m94 22 14.8 8.6 3.8 33 8-25 40 - 36% 68.2% 0 8.6 3.8 0 0 0 5.2 14.8 0 10 6 3
Gary Hill 1m93 23 12.3 6.8 2.7 9 3-6 40 - 28.6% 50% 0 6.8 2.7 0 0 0 4.5 12.3 0 7 4 3
Total 17.5 10.4 3.4 80 17-63 40 0% 40.3% 64% 0 10.4 3.4 0 0 0 4.1 17.5 0
Player Height Age USG% PACE PIE PER GMSCR AST% TO% AST/TO OREB% DREB% REB%
Wilt Chamberlain 2m16 28 35% 39,3 10,0 28,4 29,1 7% 0% 7.8 0% 16% 16%
Nate Thurmond 2m12 23 18% 18,1 12,0 14,8 15,4 10% 0% 11.2 0% 28% 28%
Guy Rodgers 1m84 29 20.7% 17,3 6,0 14,3 13,1 29% 0% 41.3 0% 8% 8%
Tom Meschery 1m98 26 18.3% 13,7 6,0 12,0 10,7 9% 0% 9.8 0% 17% 17%
Paul Neumann 1m85 26 17% 10,8 2,0 13,0 9,3 19% 0% 24.1 0% 3% 3%
Alvin Attles 1m85 28 18.3% 10,7 3,0 10,5 8,1 21% 0% 26.1 0% 8% 8%
Wayne Hightower 2m03 24 18.5% 9,8 2,0 9,1 6,8 8% 0% 8.3 0% 9% 9%
McCoy McLemore 2m01 22 19.3% 10,5 3,0 8,3 6,5 9% 0% 10.1 0% 18% 18%
Connie Dierking 2m05 28 19.4% 8,8 2,0 13,4 7,0 10% 0% 11.3 0% 9% 9%
Gary Phillips 1m92 25 17% 8,8 2,0 7,7 5,6 19% 0% 23.1 0% 7% 7%
John Rudometkin 1m98 24 19.3% 7,6 1,0 7,8 4,6 9% 0% 9.5 0% 5% 5%
George Lee 1m93 28 16.6% 5,6 0 10,5 4,1 11% 0% 12 0% 3% 3%
Bud Koper 1m98 22 16.7% 4,8 1,0 10,5 3,5 14% 0% 16.6 0% 4% 4%
Cotton Nash 1m96 22 19.7% 4,8 0 10,2 3,3 9% 0% 9.3 0% 4% 4%
Barry Kramer 1m94 22 17.6% 3,6 1,0 10,4 2,8 18% 0% 21.8 0% 6% 6%
Gary Hill 1m93 23 19.1% 4,6 0 3,7 1,8 13% 0% 14.6 0% 1% 1%
Player Height Age eFG% TS% 3PAr FTr %FGA/2PTm %FGA/3PTm %FGA/FTm %PTS/2PTm %PTS/3PTm %PTS/FTm PTS/2PTm PTS/3PTm
Wilt Chamberlain 2m16 28 58,0% 49,5% 0% 39,1% 71,9% 0% 28,1% 85,9% 0% 14,1% 1 0
Nate Thurmond 2m12 23 51,4% 45,6% 0% 28,8% 77,6% 0% 22,4% 81,6% 0% 18,4% 0.84 0
Guy Rodgers 1m84 29 47,1% 42,1% 0% 26,6% 79,0% 0% 21,0% 80,7% 0% 19,3% 0.76 0
Tom Meschery 1m98 26 54,5% 46,3% 0% 40,3% 71,3% 0% 28,7% 72,2% 0% 27,8% 0.79 0
Paul Neumann 1m85 26 57,7% 50,0% 0% 35,2% 74,0% 0% 26,0% 77,9% 0% 22,1% 0.9 0
Alvin Attles 1m85 28 51,4% 43,5% 0% 41,0% 70,9% 0% 29,1% 74,8% 0% 25,2% 0.77 0
Wayne Hightower 2m03 24 51,1% 42,9% 0% 43,7% 69,6% 0% 30,4% 67,2% 0% 32,8% 0.69 0
McCoy McLemore 2m01 22 44,6% 39,3% 0% 30,7% 76,5% 0% 23,5% 75,5% 0% 24,5% 0.67 0
Connie Dierking 2m05 28 52,9% 45,4% 0% 37,4% 72,8% 0% 27,2% 80,8% 0% 19,2% 0.85 0
Gary Phillips 1m92 25 46,7% 40,2% 0% 36,3% 73,3% 0% 26,7% 76,7% 0% 23,3% 0.72 0
John Rudometkin 1m98 24 45,2% 39,3% 0% 34,2% 74,5% 0% 25,5% 74,2% 0% 25,8% 0.67 0
George Lee 1m93 28 58,4% 45,1% 0% 67,5% 59,7% 0% 40,3% 57,8% 0% 42,2% 0.68 0
Bud Koper 1m98 22 51,2% 47,6% 0% 17,4% 85,2% 0% 14,8% 85,8% 0% 14,2% 0.88 0
Cotton Nash 1m96 22 47,7% 43,4% 0% 22,7% 81,5% 0% 18,5% 78,6% 0% 21,4% 0.75 0
Barry Kramer 1m94 22 51,0% 42,7% 0% 44,0% 69,4% 0% 30,6% 70,6% 0% 29,4% 0.72 0
Gary Hill 1m93 23 38,6% 32,8% 0% 40,0% 71,4% 0% 28,6% 74,1% 0% 25,9% 0.57 0
Player Height Age %MIN %PTS %FGM %FGA %2PM %2PA %3PM %3PA %FTM %FTA %OREB %DREB %REB %AST %TOV %STL %BLK %BLKA %PF %PFD %+/- %EFF
Wilt Chamberlain 2m16 28 114% 37% 40% 33% 40% 33% 0% 0% 24% 37% 0% 37% 37% 15% 0% 0% 0% - 8% - - 0%
Nate Thurmond 2m12 23 103% 16% 16% 16% 16% 16% 0% 0% 13% 13% 0% 29% 29% 10% 0% 0% 0% - 12% - - 0%
Guy Rodgers 1m84 29 85% 14% 14% 15% 14% 15% 0% 0% 12% 12% 0% 6% 6% 35% 0% 0% 0% - 13% - - 0%
Tom Meschery 1m98 26 76% 12% 11% 11% 11% 11% 0% 0% 15% 13% 0% 13% 13% 6% 0% 0% 0% - 14% - - 0%
Paul Neumann 1m85 26 65% 10% 10% 9% 10% 9% 0% 0% 11% 9% 0% 4% 4% 13% 0% 0% 0% - 11% - - 0%
Alvin Attles 1m85 28 60% 9% 8% 9% 8% 9% 0% 0% 10% 10% 0% 5% 5% 14% 0% 0% 0% - 13% - - 0%
Wayne Hightower 2m03 24 54% 8% 7% 8% 7% 8% 0% 0% 12% 10% 0% 8% 8% 4% 0% 0% 0% - 12% - - 0%
McCoy McLemore 2m01 22 56% 8% 8% 9% 8% 9% 0% 0% 9% 8% 0% 10% 10% 5% 0% 0% 0% - 12% - - 0%
Connie Dierking 2m05 28 46% 8% 8% 7% 8% 7% 0% 0% 7% 8% 0% 10% 10% 5% 0% 0% 0% - 9% - - 0%
Gary Phillips 1m92 25 53% 7% 7% 7% 7% 7% 0% 0% 7% 8% 0% 4% 4% 10% 0% 0% 0% - 10% - - 0%
John Rudometkin 1m98 24 40% 6% 5% 6% 5% 6% 0% 0% 7% 6% 0% 7% 7% 4% 0% 0% 0% - 9% - - 0%
George Lee 1m93 28 34% 5% 3% 4% 3% 4% 0% 0% 9% 8% 0% 5% 5% 3% 0% 0% 0% - 5% - - 0%
Bud Koper 1m98 22 29% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 0% 0% 3% 2% 0% 2% 2% 4% 0% 0% 0% - 4% - - 0%
Cotton Nash 1m96 22 25% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 0% 0% 4% 3% 0% 4% 4% 2% 0% 0% 0% - 5% - - 0%
Barry Kramer 1m94 22 21% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 0% 0% 4% 4% 0% 3% 3% 4% 0% 0% 0% - 4% - - 0%
Gary Hill 1m93 23 24% 3% 3% 4% 3% 4% 0% 0% 3% 4% 0% 3% 3% 3% 0% 0% 0% - 4% - - 0%

Golden State Warriors history

The Warriors were founded in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors, a member of the Basketball Association of America. They played what is considered the inaugural season of the NBA and are the first champions of the League. The team defeated the Chicago Stags 4-1 in the Finals, led by Jumping Joe Fulks, a 6-5 forward who was the first NBA leading scorer, by a wide margin.

Their coach was Eddie Gottlieb who gave his name to the rookie of the year trophy and is a Hall of Fame member. He bought the Warriors in 1952 becoming also their owner. When he stepped down from his head coaching position, the team won its second championship behind Paul Arizin. A 6-4 forward from Villanova, who was named to the 50 Greatest Player in NBA History in 1996.

Chamberlain and the 100 points game

In 1959 the Warriors drafted Wilt Chamberlain through the NBA’s territorial pick. At the time the league was looking to attract fans who lived near the team’s home market. The territorial pick helped squads acquire popular players from colleges in their area. Although Chamberlain played college ball at Kansas, the Warriors argued that because Chamberlain had grown up in Philadelphia and played high school basketball at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, they held his territorial rights. The NBA agreed with the argument. In his first season with the Warriors, the Stilt averaged 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds. Two years later, he averaged 50.4 points per game and scored 100 points against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, a single game record that will probably last forever.

A few months later, Franklin Mieuli, along with 32 local investors, bought the team from Eddie Gottlieb for 850.000 dollars and relocated the franchise to the San Francisco Bay Area, renaming them the San Francisco Warriors. Mieuli was a San Francisco Bay Area radio and television producer who played a major role in breaking down racial barriers in the NBA by encouraging his team's front office to sign players regardless of color.

In 1963 the Warriors drafted Nate Thurmond to form a formidable frontcourt with Chamberlain. The duo took the team back to the NBA Finals that season, only to lose to the mighty Boston Celtics. Chamberlain was soon traded as the franchise got off to a terrible start and ran into financial trouble. When Chamberlain left to return to Philadelphia, Franklin Mieuli said: "Chamberlain is not an easy man to love and the fans in San Francisco never learned to love him. Wilt is easy to hate and people came to see him lose."

Rick Barry scorching the nets

The fans quickly found a new idol in Rick Barry. The sharpshooter who led the NCAA in scoring was named rookie of the year in 1966 and a year later the Warriors returned to the NBA Finals. Ironically enough, they were defeated by the Philadelphia Sixers, led by Wilt Chamberlain. Barry averaged 35.6 points per game that year and 40.8 points per game during the Finals series but infuriated with Mieuli’s failure to pay him certain incentive bonuses, the Miami Greyhound moved to the ABA after seating out a year, joining the Oakland Oaks.

Barry returned to the Warriors in 1972 as the team had changed his name to the Golden State Warriors, to suggest that the team represented the entire state of California. Coached by former player Al Attles, the Warriors managed one of the greatest upset in NBA history in 1975. Golden State not only defeated the heavily favored Washington Bullets in the Finals but humiliated them in a four-game sweep. Jamaal Wilkes was the perfect complement to Rick Barry as he was named rookie of the year.

The years that followed, the Warriors faded into obscurity. They failed to reach the playoffs for nine consecutive years before enjoying a spectacular rebound under the guidance of coach Don Nelson and the high-scoring trio of point guard Tim Hardaway, guard Mitch Richmond and forward Chris Mullin. Collectively known as "Run TMC" after the rap group Run-D.M.C., the trio stayed together for just two seasons and won only one playoff series. But they captured the imagination of many fans with their offensive brand of basketball. Mullin played 13 seasons in the Bay Area and his magical left hand earned him a spot on the original Dream Team.

Yet the Warriors became a bad team. A very bad one. Between 1994 and 2012, the team only made the playoffs once despite signing great talents like Chris Webber, Latrell Sprewell, Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas, Monta Ellis or Baron Davis.

Stephen Curry the hidden gem

In 2009, the contract of now GM Chris Mullin was not renewed as former Don Nelson’s assistant coach, Larry Riley, was promoted to the position. Although his reign only lasted three years, it shaped the future of the franchise. His first move was to draft Stephen Curry with the seventh pick in the draft. Two point-guards were chosen ahead of him by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Although he was the NCAA leading scorer, Curry was not playing for a high profile university with Davidson and experts were skeptical about his potential impact in the NBA. Years later, as he had become a superstar, Curry could not forget his doubters : "All this analysis that people would put out there, all these scouting reports and whatever, that kept the focus on what I supposedly couldn’t do. "Undersized." "Not a finisher." "Extremely limited." I can still reel them off to this day. But what’s even crazier is how, also to this day — even with how I’ve ended up doing my thing, and even with all of these unique types of players coming into the league and showing what they can do — you’re still seeing these so-called experts scouting hoops that same old way: by focusing on the downside of what guys can’t do."

GM Larry Riley took a chance on Curry and a year later, he went again with a shooter who had spent three years in the NCAA, with Washington State. Klay Thompson, the son of former Blazers and Lakers center Mychal Thompson, also had his critics, pointing out his limited athleticism, and he slid all the way down to the 11th spot.

The Warriors had their new backourt set up and soon after handed the reins of the franchise to Bob Myers, a former agent for the powerful Wasserman Media Group. Myers kept on adding pieces through smart draft choices. Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green were added to the mix and Andrew Bogut arrived via a trade from Milwaukee.

A new brand of basketball

Former Knicks’ point-guard, Mark Jackson was the coach that brought the franchise back to the playoffs. But it is another former player turned TV analyst, who transformed the Warriors into a winning machine. Steve Kerr won five championships with the Bulls and Spurs and despite having no prior coaching experience, his results were spectacular. Kerr took the best of the coaches he worked with. The triangle offense of Phil Jackson, the spacing of Gregg Popovich, the uptempo principles of Mike D’Antoni. The Warriors revolutionized basketball, relying on passing, cutting and deadly outside shooting rather than pure athleticism and one on one play. Golden State won 67 games, the team best record ever and went on to win the title beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2.

A year later, the Warriors made their way into the history books by winning 73 games, beating the previous record held by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Stephen Curry captured a second season MVP trophy but their dream season ended in frustration after they became the first team to lose in the NBA Finals after leading 3-1.

That did not stop the franchise from rebounding in a spectacular way, attracting Kevin Durant to California in July 2016. The former MVP wanted to get out of his "comfort zone" but was mainly looking to win a championship that had eluded him. He did not have to wait for long. His new team won 67 games in the regular season, swept its first three rounds of the playoffs before dominating the Cavs 4-1 in the Finals as Durant was named MVP. A year later, he repeated the accomplishment, again against the Cavs. It took a series of injuries to prevent Golden State from achieving the threepeat in 2019.

During the summer of 2019 Durant moved to the East coast joining the Brooklyn Nets as the Warriors left Oakland to open the state of the art Chase Center in San Francisco.