- The Golden State Warriors have not had a player win Rookie of the Year since Chris Webber in 1994
- The Golden State Warriors have not had a player lead the NBA in assists since Guy Rodgers in 1963
- Stephen Curry is the only player in Warriors history with more than one MVP award
The Golden State Warriors are one of the oldest teams in and have one of the richest team histories that the NBA has ever seen. Founded in 1946-47, the Warriors have been a part of the NBA since its inception 76 years ago. Over that time, the Warriors have spent time as the Philadelphia Warriors from 1947 through 1962, the San Francisco Warriors from 1963 through 1971, and have been the Golden State Warriors ever since. Â
Over the course of their illustrious history, the Warriors have captured seven NBA championships led by some of the greatest players and biggest names in the history of the sport. Players like Paul Arizin, Neil Johnston, Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and more have made their mark on the history of the team and made the story of the NBA as a league impossible to tell without their mention.
Just as we have done in recent weeks with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, today we are going to do a thorough dive into the history of the Golden State Warriors. We will speak about all of the accolades and achievements the team accomplished as a whole as well as all of the individual awards that players accumulated while donning their uniform. This will give newer fans a deeper look into their franchise, the likes of which have rarely been written, while the older fans can enjoy a nice stroll down memory lane.
This is the history of the Golden State Warriors.
NBA Championships
7 Championship Teams
1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
As a team, the Golden State Warriors have won seven NBA championships in their team’s history, giving them the third-most by any team ever. Their first of these seven championships came in 1947 when the league was still known as the BAA, and the team was still in Philadelphia. The team was led by Joe Fulks with 26.2 PPG in a five-game series win over the Chicago Stags.
Their next NBA championship would come nine years later, with the league now known as the NBA and the team still in Philadelphia. This time, the team would be led by Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston to a five-game series win over the Fort Wayne Pistons. In this series, Arizin would average 27.6 PPG and 8.0 RPG in the victory, while Johnston averaged a double-double with 13.6 PPG and 11.0 RPG. Tom Gola and Jack George also added over 13.0 PPG each in the series for the Warriors.
It would be 19 seasons before the Warriors would be named NBA champions once again, now using the Golden State name they are still under today. In this series, it would be Rick Barry and the Warriors taking on Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, and the Washington Bullets. The Bullets were no match for Golden State in the Finals, as the Warriors went on to sweep the Bullets in four games. Barry was the most outstanding player on the floor, with 29.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, and 3.5 SPG.
For 40 years, the Warriors failed to capture another NBA championship until a new era was ushered in, led by Coach Steve Kerr as well as stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. With a fast-paced three-point attack, the Warriors made their way to the 2015 NBA Finals against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The Warriors would capture the title in six games behind Stephen Curry’s 26.0 PPG and Andre Iguodala’s defensive effort on James. It was the Warriors’ fourth NBA championship but would not be their last.
After failing to win an NBA title in 2016 despite a 73-9 regular season record, the Warriors added Kevin Durant to their roster in one of the most traitorous moves in NBA history. The Warriors would appear in back-to-back NBA Finals in 2017 and 2018, with Durant helping them secure two more NBA championships. The Warriors would go 9-1 over those two Finals series, with Durant being named Finals MVP both times with outstanding performances each time.
The Warriors’ most recent NBA championship would come during the 2022 season when most media members and fans had already declared their dynasty to be dead. Stephen Curry along with support from Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, and Andrew Wiggins, would lead the Warriors to their fourth NBA championship in eight seasons. Curry would lead them in a six-game series win over the Celtics with 31.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 5.0 APG.
Finals MVP
Rick Barry (1975), Andre Iguodala (2015), Kevin Durant 2x (2017, 2018), Stephen Curry (2022)
The Golden State Warriors have had just four different players named Finals MVP in their seven NBA championship runs. The first of these players would be Rick Barry during the 1975 Finals against the Bullets. Barry would have a masterful performance in the series as he led the Warriors to a four-game sweep of Washington behind 29.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, and 3.5 SPG. He shot 44.4% from the field overall and went 30-32 from the foul line as well.
The 2015 Finals MVP is still one that comes under heavy questioning to this day. The award could have easily and probably should have gone to Stephen Curry for the way he led the Warriors through their entire series win over the Cavaliers. Instead, the voters decided Andre Iguodala was the more valuable asset in their win. Iguodala was heralded for his defensive efforts against LeBron James in clutch moments during the course of the series and averaged 16.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, and 1.3 SPG.
In their 2017 and 2018 victories over LeBron James and the Cavaliers, Kevin Durant was named Finals MVP both years, becoming the only multi-time Finals MVP in franchise history. Durant led the Warriors to a dominant five-game series win in the 2017 NBA Finals while averaging 35.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 5.4 APG on 55.6% shooting overall and 47.4% from three. In 2018, Durant and the Warriors would be even more dominant in a four-game sweep. Durant was named Finals MVP in 2018 with 28.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 7.5 APG on 52.6% shooting overall and 40.9% shooting from three.
In their most recent NBA Finals win in 2022, Stephen Curry was finally able to get the proverbial monkey off his back and secured his first Finals MVP in a scintillating shooting performance for the ages. Curry would lead the Warriors to a six-game series win over the Boston Celtics with 31.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, and 2.0 SPG. Curry also shot 48.2% overall and 31-71 from three-point land for the entirety of the series.
MVP
Wilt Chamberlain (1960), Stephen Curry 2x (2015, 2016)
Despite all of the success and immense history, they built as an organization, the Warriors have had just two different players win MVP awards in their history. The first would be Wilt Chamberlain all the way back in 1960. What made Chamberlain’s MVP season with the Warriors so unique is the fact that it came during his rookie season. Being a rookie didn’t stop Wilt from leading the NBA with 37.6 PPG, 27.0 RPG, and 46.4 minutes played per game. Chamberlain led the Warriors to a 49-26 record but would fall to the Celtics in the Eastern Division Finals.
Stephen Curry is the other MVP award winner in Warriors history and the only player to win it more than once for the organization. His first MVP win would come in 2015, a breakout season all around for Curry. He would average 23.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 7.7 APG, and 2.0 SPG while the team won 67 games and eventually an NBA title. In 2016, Curry and the Warriors would make NBA history. As a team, they would set the NBA record with 73 wins, while Curry secured the first and only unanimous MVP in NBA history. Curry won the scoring title with 30.1 PPG while also adding 5.4 RPG, 6.7 APG, and a league-leading 2.1 SPG.
Rookie Of The Year
Woody Sauldsberry (1958), Wilt Chamberlain (1960), Rick Barry (1966), Jamaal Wilkes (1975), Mitch Richmond (1989), Chris Webber (1994)
The Golden State Warriors have had six Rookie of the Year winners beginning all the way back in 1958 with Woody Sauldsberry. He would win Rookie of the Year with the Philadelphia Warriors by averaging 12.8 PPG and 10.3 RPG on just 36.0% shooting. Sauldsberry would be an All-Star in 1959 and enjoy a steady seven seasons in the NBA, three and a half of which came with the Warriors franchise.
Chances are, if you are named MVP in your rookie season, the Rookie of the Year award is yours as well. That is exactly what happened with Wilt Chamberlain in his rookie season in 1960. In his first of seven consecutive scoring titles, Chamberlain averaged 37.6 PPG as a rookie, along with an NBA-leading 27.0 RPG. Wilt shot 46.1% from the field overall and led the NBA in minutes played with 46.4, something he would do quite often in his career. Chamberlain would play six seasons with the Warriors before heading back to Philadelphia to play with the 76ers.
Rick Barry is one of the greatest players in both NBA and ABA history. Barry would make his NBA debut for the Warriors in 1965-66 while they were still under the San Francisco name. Of course, Barry would leave the NBA to play in the ABA at one point, but not before racking up some accolades within his first two years in the NBA. Barry would take home the Rookie of the Year award with 25.7 PPG and 10.6 RPG in 80 games played in 1966. The Warriors would finish 35-45 on the year and miss the NBA playoffs.
Jamaal Wilkes is most famous to NBA fans for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers during their 1980 showtime days. Prior to that, Wilkes spent three seasons with the Warriors. In 1975, Wilkes cruised to a Rookie of the Year win with Golden State averaging 14.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 1.3 SPG. Later on that season, Wilkes would help the Warriors win an NBA championship over the Washington Bullets.
Mitch Richmond was a part of one of the most exciting and thrilling times in Warriors history. As a member of the group Run TMC with Chris Mullin and Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond broke into the NBA with the Warriors in 1988-89. In his rookie season, Richmond exploded for 22.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.2 APG, and 1.0 SPG. He won Rookie of the Year in easy fashion over Willie Anderson and Chris Morris.
The final Rookie of the Year for Golden State came nearly 30 years ago in 1993-94. First overall pick Chris Webber had been traded from the Magic to the Warriors in a deal that certainly changed the course of NBA history. With the Warriors, Chris Webber constantly clashed with coach Don Nelson but his play on the court rarely suffered. Webber would average 17.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 2.2 BPG. After the season, Webber was promptly traded in a move I know the team wishes they could have back, considering how things panned out for both sides.
Defensive Player Of The Year
Draymond Green (2017)
There has only been one player to capture the Defensive Player of the Year award in Golden State Warriors history. At his peak, Draymond Green was the best and most versatile defender in the game. Not only was Green a physical menace who was able to take on any matchup put in front of him, but he was always a master of psychological warfare as well. Green was honored with the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year for his league-leading 2.0 SPG and 1.4 BPG.
Sixth Man Of The Year
None
Coach Of The Year
Alex Hannum (1964), Don Nelson (1992), Steve Kerr (2016)
There have been three coaches with the Warriors to capture Coach of the Year honors, and all three are some of the greatest basketball minds to ever walk the planet. Alex Hannum won the Warriors’ first Coach of the Year award back in 1964 in his first season as coach. He led the team to a 48-32 record but finished with a career 100-140 record in three years. He would lead the 76ers to an NBA title in 1967, though.
Don Nelson is one of the best coaches in NBA history, and when any player is asked about him, they revel in the joys of playing for him at one time. Well, except maybe Chris Webber. Nelson won the award in 1992 after he led the Warriors to a 55-27 record. Nelson would coach the Warriors for a total of 11 seasons and finish with a record of 422-443 in 865 games coached with the team.
The final coach to be named Coach of the Year for Golden State is their current leader, Steve Kerr. One season after leading the Warriors to their first championship in 40 years, Kerr made more history in 2016. He helped the Warriors defeat the 1996 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72 wins in a season as they went 73-9. Kerr, a player for the 1996 Bulls, was now part of the two greatest teams to ever play the game. Kerr has led the Warriors to four NBA championships and six Finals appearances in his career as their coach since 2015.
All-Star Game MVP
Paul Arizin (1952), Wilt Chamberlain (1960), Rick Barry (1967), Kevin Durant (2019), Stephen Curry (2022)
All of the usual suspects are here as the Warriors’ five winners of the All-Star Game MVP in their careers. The first All-Star Game MVP for the Warriors would come way back in 1952, courtesy of Paul Arizin. It would be another eight seasons before another Warriors player would win the award. This time it was Wilt Chamberlain who would add to the hardware he had already collected during his rookie campaign.
Rick Barry adds another award here as well, securing his only All-Star Game MVP in just his second season in the NBA before jumping ship to the ABA for a few seasons. Kevin Durant was an All-Star MVP as well during the 2019 season, his final season with the team after leading them to back-to-back NBA championships in 2017 and 2018. The final All-Star Game MVP in Warriors history was Stephen Curry in 2022. Curry put on an incredible shooting display in the game and carried that momentum the rest of the season to their fourth NBA championship.
Scoring Titles
Joe Fulks 2x (1947, 1948), Paul Arizin 2x (1952, 1957), Wilt Chamberlain 6x (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965), Rick Barry (1967), Stephen Curry (2016, 2021)
There have also only ever been five NBA players with the Warriors to win the scoring title in their careers. The first of these players was Joe Fulks all the way back in 1947, who won the BAA scoring title with 23.2 PPG and in 1948 with 22.1 PPG. Paul Arizin was also a two-time winner of the scoring title in the 1950s, averaging 25.4 PPG in 1952 and 25.6 PPG in 1957.
Wilt Chamberlain destroyed the NBA statistically during the 1960s with six consecutive scoring titles with the team to start his career. Chamberlain averaged 40.6 PPG over the course of these six years, which included an NBA record 50.4 PPG in 1962. Rick Barry also added a scoring title to his resume with the Warriors in 1967 with 35.6 PPG. It would be barely 50 years until another Warriors player would win a scoring title. During their record-setting 2016 season, Curry captured his first scoring title with 30.1 PPG. Just six years later, in 2021, Curry would win his second scoring title averaging 32.0 PPG in 63 games played.
Assists Titles
Howie Dallmar (1948), Andy Phillip 2x (1951, 1952), Guy Rodgers (1963)
It has been exactly 60 years since the last Warriors player recorded an assists title for the team. Howie Dallmar captured the first one in team history when he recorded 120 total assists in 1948, or just 2.5 APG. Andy Phillip won the award twice for the Warriors as well, in 1951 and 1952. Phillip actually won three in a row as an individual, winning his first in 1950 with the Chicago Stags. Phillip averaged 6.3 APG in 1951 and 8.2 APG in 1952 to win back-to-back assists titles for the Warriors.
The final player to win an assists title for the Warriors would be Guy Rodgers in 1963. Rodgers would average 10.4 APG for the team during the 1963 season to go along with 13.9 PPG and 5.0 RPG. Rodgers would leave the team in 1966, but he was not done winning assist titles. In his first season with the Chicago Bulls in 1966-67, Rodgers would win another NBA assists title with 11.2 APG.
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