The Golden State Warriors might not have always been a perennial contender, but the team has a rich, colorful history full of talented stars and compelling characters. With the Dubs sitting on top of the NBA so far in 2014-15, let's count down the five greatest Warriors in franchise history:
A few notes on our selection policy:
- 'Greatness' here is more about what the player did while with the Warriors than what they did for some other team later on
- Only the years after the franchise moved to San Francisco will be taken into account (sorry, Philadelphia...you have more than enough teams already)
Honorable Mention: Mitch Richmond, Al Attles, Tim Hardaway & Jamaal Wilkes
5. Stephen Curry (2009-)
Remember when they announced the top 50 NBA players of all time back in the 90's, and everyone booed Shaq and Kobe because they felt like they hadn't paid their dues yet? We don't expect having Curry here will bring out that kind of a reaction. Since drafting Curry in 2009, the Warriors have won more playoff games than they did in the previous 18 seasons. Already the franchise leader in made three-pointers, we fully expect Curry to rise a few spots on this list before he eventually moves on.
4. Wilt Chamberlain (1962-1965)
Wilt was never as dominant in San Francisco as he was in Philadelphia, and financial trouble forced the Warriors to trade Chamberlain (and his then-hefty salary) to the Philadelphia 76ers midway through his third season in the Bay.
Still, Wilt set franchise records that still stand today (we probably won't see his 41.5 points per game mark broken any time soon), and the team reached the NBA Finals in his second season in San Francisco.
3. Chris Mullin (1985-1997)
Mullin was the star player of the Warriors' Run-TMC era, and while he never made it past the conference semifinals, he still has a special place in team history. Mullin ranks in the franchise all-time top 5 in games, minutes, points, assists, steals, and just about any way you can measure shooting percentage.
2. Nate Thurmond (1963-1974)
Thurmond made seven all-star games during his time as a Warrior, a record only surpassed by the number one player on our list. A physically imposing rebounder who used finely-honed moves to dominate the block, Thurmond was Golden State's franchise player during the team's second most-successful decade. After Wilt Chamberlain left for Philadelphia, Thurmond developed into a true franchise center for the Warriors, averaging over 15 points and 15 rebounds per game in 8 of his 11 seasons with the team.
Thurmond wasn't just a Warrior during his time on the floor - he still lives in San Francisco and attends games on a regular basis. The Warriors have officially given him the title of 'Warriors Legend & Ambassador', and his continued community service and support of the team made that special recognition well deserved.
1. Rick Barry (1965-1967, 1972-1978)
Barry was never the most popular figure among the fans (his 1968 departure for a higher contract in the ABA certainly didn't help), but the passage of time has made it easier for Warriors fans to appreciate his impact. The NBA's first true point forward, Barry averaged 35.6 points in his second season with the team - a record among Warriors players not named Wilt Chamberlain.
Barry led the team to the franchise's only NBA title in San Francisco, winning the 1974-75 Finals MVP award, and he was named to the All-Star team in every single one of his eight seasons as a Warrior. While his abrasive personality made it hard for fans to love Barry as a player, his success in a Warriors jersey makes it impossible to rank anyone else higher in the team's pantheon of greats.
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