Golden State Warriors Mount Rushmore: Who are the top 4 players in franchise history?
The Golden State Warriors are one of the oldest and most storied franchises in the NBA. Over their 78-year history, the Warriors have won seven championships and reached an impressive five consecutive NBA finals between 2015 and 2019. Along the way to those championships, some of the game's biggest names and most established stars have taken the court for the franchise.
Kevin Durant is considered one of the game's all-time greats, but spent just three seasons with the organization (winning two titles). On his side, Latrell Sprewell was one of the league's most explosive players in the mid-1990s and had the ability to throw down some thunderous dunks.
Hall of Famer Rick Barry was an eight-time All-Star and won the 1975 NBA Finals MVP award with the Warriors. On the other hand, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond both represented Team USA at the Olympics.
Here, we take a look back at the four greatest players in Warriors history.
Golden State Warriors Mount Rushmore: Who are the top 4 players in franchise history?
#4. Klay Thompson
It would have been hard to leave out Klay Thompson from any list that includes Warrior greats. The 6-foot-6 marksman spent 13 seasons with the Bay Area club and would go on to win four championships with the organization.
Known for his stellar three-point shooting and sound defense, Thompson was the perfect addition to a Warriors side that had struggled to find consistency before he arrived.
The five-time All-Star would go on to average 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and shot an incredible 41.3 percent from behind the arc over 793 games for the Golden State Warriors.
After an incredible run, the "Splash Brothers" duo, which consisted of Thompson and Stephen Curry, will finally part ways with the former agreeing to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks this offseason.
#3. Chris Mullin
Chris Mullin was one the most sought-after prospects in the nation coming out of high school. The Golden State Warriors jumped at the opportunity to draft the 6-foot-7 St. John's guard/forward in 1985. The gifted left-handed shooter would go on to become one of the most consistent scorers in the NBA during an era where points were difficult to come by.
Mullin averaged over 20 points a game over 807 regular-season games for the Warriors. He was a five-time All-Star and an All-NBA First Team selection in 1992. Accordingly, Golden State retired his no.17 jersey on March 19, 2012.
With a talented trio of Mullin, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond, the Warriors were competitive and regularly reached the NBA playoffs in the late-1980s to mid-1990s. Unfortunately, they fell short of winning a championship under coach Don Nelson.
#2. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain is remembered for his time with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers but the legendary center began his career with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors.
The former Kansas Jayhawks star made an immediate impact with the Warriors and would go on to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the 1959-60 season.
Chamberlain led the league in scoring every year from 1960-1966 and in rebounding from 1960-1963. He was a four-time league MVP and won two NBA titles over his career.
For the Warriors, Chamberlain averaged 41.5 points and 25.1 rebounds per night in 429 games.
In 1979, Wilt Chamberlain was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In December 1999, his No. 13 jersey was officially retired by the Golden State Warriors organization.
#1. Stephen Curry
Steph Curry is not just the face of the modern-day Golden State Warriors, he is a global icon. The sharpshooting 6-foot-2 guard has revolutionized the way the game is played.
Curry is regarded as the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history and is known for his ability to create space and shoot under pressure.
Led by Curry, the Warriors would go on to reach six finals and win four championships between 2015-2022 in what is considered the golden era for the franchise. The North Carolina native is a two-time league MVP, a 10-time All-Star and was named the 2022 NBA Finals MVP.
Over 15 years with the franchise, Curry has scored 23,668 points (Warriors' record), while recording 6,119 assists and 4,509 rebounds. Moreover, he holds the all-time NBA record for most three-pointers with 3,747.