Since the arrival of Larry Riley to the team in the mid-2000s, the Golden State Warriors have been known to be great at finding undrafted talent to fill out the roster. From C.J. Watson and Kelenna Azubuike, to Seth Curry and Kent Bazemore now, the team’s current Director of Scouting has had a big hand in helping the team find cheap, hard-working NBA talent that slips under the radar. Here are the top 5 most successful undrafted players who broke into the league with the Warriors:
1. Kelenna Azubuike
His contributions to the “We Believe” playoff team and 48-win team the following year included averages of 7.1 and 8.5 points, mostly off the bench. But what made him so impactful was the 6’5″ wing man’s willingness to take on the power forward spot for the undersized Warriors. During his time with the team, Azubuike adapted a physical nature in addition to his offensive production, and became one of the best rebounding guards in the league, averaging 5.9 per 36 minutes.
In 4 seasons with the team Azubuike shot better than 40% from beyond the arc and averaged 10.5 points per game. While a devastating injury to his patella tendon has limited him to just three games since being traded away to the New York Knicks in 2010, Azubuike’s tough, hard-working nature made him a positive addition to the team.
2. C.J. Watson
Watson played three seasons with the Warriors, beginning with the 2007-2008 season. His role grew steadily during his time in Oakland, and he averaged better than 10 points per game in his final season with the team. In all, he played in 174 regular season games, and averaged 8.7 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds.His most memorable moment with the team is his 40-point performance at the tail end of the 2010 season in a rout of the Sacramento Kings. He went 16-23 from the floor, looking nearly unstoppable at times while filling in for Monta Ellis.
Watson has since moved on to play backup PG for both the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets, making the playoffs each year since leaving Golden State. In July, he agreed to take over the backup PG job for the Indiana Pacers. Watson’s commitment to defense and solid shooting stroke (.382 career from 3PT) have made him a valuable asset for a number of teams since breaking into the league.
3. Anthony Morrow
Morrow is another player who’s managed to find a contributing role elsewhere. After two seasons with the Warriors, Morrow also played for the Nets, while they were still in New Jersey. Known almost entirely for his sweet shooting stroke, Morrow is a career .424 shooter from deep, and shot a franchise-best .460 (minimum 100 attempts) from beyond the arc while in a Golden State uniform. While he struggled to find a role last season, he did join the New Orleans Pelicans this off-season, hoping to become their sharp shooter off he bench.
4. Jeremy Lin
Lin get’s a passing mention on this list because of his success after leaving the Warriors. While it’s been only a short time since he was waived by the team in December 2011, Lin has managed to take over the league for the better part of a month, in addition to starting at PG for the Houston Rockets in their playoff run last season. He only averaged 2.6 points, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in 29 games with the Warriors, but he still managed to excite the crowd each time he entered the game.
Despite little playing time as the third PG under Keith Smart, who infamously chose to overuse backup Acie Law, many felt Lin showcased the same skills he’s succeeded with since leaving the team.
5. Kent Bazemore
Bazemore gets the nod here over Anthony Tolliver even though the young Warrior’s career is still in its budding stages. While he still may find it hard to earn playing time for what will likely be the Warriors’ best team in decades, his energy defensively and budding offensive game helped spark the team from the bench on a number of occasions last season.
After an impressive performance at the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League as an undrafted rookie, he took the league by storm this summer, leading the Warriors to the LVSL’s first-ever championship. Expect him to take a bigger role with the team this season, even if it means less playing time for some of the Warriors’ other swing men.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
