Best Scorers in Warrior History

The Warriors may not have the best history of defense, however offense has never been an issue.  Throughout the franchise’s history, the Warriors have had some of the NBA’s greatest scorers.  Here are the top 5 scorers in Warrior history.

5. Stephen Curry-

Despite entering only his 5^th year, and not even ranking top 10 in Warriors PPG career averages, Stephen Curry has to rank in the top scorers in Warrior history.  Steph’s 54 point game in Madison Square Garden ranks him as only the 8^th player to break the 50 point barrier in a Warrior jersey.  Stephen Curry is not only currently one of the leagues most efficient scorers because of his transcendent long range shooting, but one of the most efficient scorers in Warriors history.  Beyond that, Curry’s multiple 20+ point quarters in the 2012-13 playoffs are feats only matched by Wilt Chamberlain in Warrior history, and few others in NBA history.  His ability to go off at any time, and turn a game ranks him in the top 5, and as his career progresses it would not be surprising to see him one day move up this list.

4. Purvis Short

The skinny 6-7 small forward from Mississippi was a member of the Warriors from 1979 to 1987.  During that time Short was known as ‘the rainbowman’ because of his distinct high-arcing jump shot.  Known particularly for his mid-range jumper, Short could score from everywhere and often got to the free throw line where he shot 81.8% for the duration of his Warrior career.  Short’s best individual was in 1984/85, where despite being on a bad team that didn’t make the playoffs, Short averaged 28.0 ppg.  Short’s best game came in that season, when he scored 59 points v. the New Jersey Nets, a feat only 9 players had accomplished up to that point in NBA history.

3. Chris Mullin

Chris Mullin is the greatest all-around shooter in Warriors history, but beyond that he is one of the franchise’s best all around scorers.  Mullin averaged over 20 ppg during his 13 years as a Warrior on over 50% shooting from the field. Best known for being the leading scorer of run-TMC, Mullin averaged 25.4 points and a ridiculous 53.6% shooting during that short-lived era. Mullin was capable of scoring from everywhere; he lived up to the moniker of the ultimate ‘crafty lefty’.  Mullin was capable of hitting 3’s, pulling up in the mid-range off the dribble or driving and finishing around the rim despite having limited athleticism.  Chris Mullin remains one of the best examples that with on-court intelligence and a strong work ethic to develop one’s skills, a player is able to overcome any physical limitations and be very productive.

2.Rick Barry

The second all-time leader in points and points per game in Warrior history, Rick Barry is one of the greatest scorers in Warrior history.  Rick Barry played for the Warriors for 8 seasons where he averaged 25.6 ppg.  Rick Barry led the Warriors to their lone title in Golden State, averaging 30.6 ppg that season.  He was a lethal scorer who could score from everywhere on the floor, a great shooter from mid and long range, a good penetrator who could finish at the rim,  and perhaps his most underrated attribute was his ability to get to the free throw line and convert.  Barry shot 89.6% from the free throw line during his 8 seasons with the Warriors, so even if his shot wasn’t falling, he was always able to find ways to score.

1. Wilt Chamberlain

50 ppg for an entire season, 100 points in one game, was there ever any doubt who would be number one on this list?  Wilt’s career average of 41.5 ppg and 17,783 points as a Warrior, rank him number one in both categories in Warrior history.  Wilt was a man among boys and will always be recognized as one of the most dominant scorers of all time. No one could outright stop Wilt, not even Bill Russell, perhaps the league’s best defensive player ever, who Wilt still averaged over 23 ppg on during the duration of their careers.  Perhaps the most astonishing statistic related to Wilt, is the fact of the 120 fifty point games in Warrior history, Wilt owns 102 of them.  There is no question, Wilt Chamberlain was the greatest scorer in Warrior history.