How Has a 2025 Second Round Pick Already Exceeded Expectations
When Golden State drafted Will Richard with the 56th overall pick, their move seemed like an investment into the future. However, with head coach Steve Kerr putting early trust in him, Richard has suddenly found himself in a different role. No, he hasn’t come out of nowhere to replace Brandin Podziemski in the starting lineup. Yet I initially expected Richard to be featured rarely in blowout games, perhaps getting more opportunities only if injuries pile up in the backcourt. These first eight games have shown quite a different story, and here’s how.
The former Gator really excels and provides some needed value on defense, with his above-average six-foot-nine wingspan giving him enough length to realistically cover any guard. His length, as one might imagine, helps him massively in racking up steals. In his last season at the University of Florida, Richard finished with 1.7 steals per game, and his 66 total steals finished as the fourth-highest in program history for a single season. Looking at the areas in which he can be a factor from a team perspective, guarding the perimeter has been a reasonable area of concern for Golden State. The Dubs struggled to contain star guards last year, and came into this campaign with Jimmy Butler serving as the only reliable and proven option to help with the damage control. Gary Payton II is an exceptional on-ball defender as well, but his lack of a contributor offensively compromises his playability. Richard, however, doesn’t just limit the value he provides to just defense.
Richard’s versatility is what I believe, in large part, forces coach Kerr’s hand. He’s a do-it-all athletic guard who can shoot from range, isn’t afraid to attack the rim, and can space the floor in off-ball situations. The NBA world saw how Richard can explode when given the chance, and he did just that against Sacramento a few nights ago. The former national champion put up 30 points, along with seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 34 minutes. The rookie has stepped up as a well-balanced choice for coach Kerr to deploy off the bench, and he has shown promising signs of what’s to come. Once Stephen Curry comes back into the rotation from his illness, it’ll be interesting to see how the minute spread will impact Richard. For now, Warriors fans should be more than content with the first year’s early-season success.
