A brief history of All-Rookie Warriors

All 22 of them!

On Monday, it was announced that Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski had been named to the All-Rookie First Team, where he joins Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Brandon Miller. It’s one heck of an accomplishment for Podziemski, who was nearly joined by his teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis — the first player out, missing the Second Team by one point.

Making the All-Rookie team is an awesome accomplishment that Podziemski should certainly celebrate. But how telling is it? Not all of the All-Rookie classes can be as good as 2003-04, when the voters selected LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Kirk Hinrich. But usually, when we look back on the All-Rookie teams, they paint a fairly accurate picture as to who emerged as impact players long term.

But I was curious, so it seemed like a good time to travel back in time ... and look at the 21 Warriors to make the All-Rookie team before Podziemski. It’s worth noting that prior to the 1988-89 season, the NBA only had one All-Rookie team, instead of two. So surely the Dubs would have had a few additional Second-Teamers in there otherwise.

Here’s the full list in reverse chronological order, including some important context: what other players make the All-Rookie team that year, and how the player did in the ensuing season.

Eric Paschall — 2019-20 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, Kendrick Nunn
Sophomore stats: 17.4 minutes, 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game

It pains me to say it, but Paschall kind of represents the worst-case scenario for a player on the All-Rookie team. When you make the team — especially the First Team — it isn’t expected that your best days are already behind you. But that’s what happened for Paschall, who jumped on the scene as a second-round pick on a 15-win squad, playing 1,654 minutes and scoring 837 points ... and then only logging 1,431 more minutes and 715 more points in his career (though of course he could get back to the NBA again some day).

Harrison Barnes — 2012-13 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Dion Waiters
Sophomore stats: 28.3 minutes, 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game

Barnes kind of falls into the middle ground for expected outcomes. He didn’t fall off, and has gone on to have a solid 12-year career that still has many more seasons left it in. But he and Waiters certainly stand out next to the other three names on that list.

Klay Thompson — 2011-12 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Ricky Rubio, Kenneth Faried, Iman Shumpert, Brandon Knight
Sophomore stats: 35.8 minutes, 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game

Sometimes I forget that Klay was only drafted one year before Barnes. And it’s always funny to me to remember that he was part of a seven-player First Team, due to a three-way tie (a tie that’s extra funny in hindsight, as Leonard was paired with Shumpert and Knight). Safe to say, becoming a four-time champion and a future Hall of Famer is a great outcome for an All-Rookie selection.

Steph Curry — 2009-10 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, Darren Collison, Taj Gibson
Sophomore stats: 33.6 minutes, 18.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game

My goodness, that’s a grim First Team, other than Curry! Though it’s worth noting that the draft class had same late representation after injured Blake Griffin made the team the next year, and then Rubio made it two years later when he joined the NBA.

Anyway, Curry is amazing, but you already knew that.

Jason Richardson — 2001-02 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Shane Battier, Andrei Kirilenko
Sophomore stats: 32.9 minutes, 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game

The seven-year gap between Barnes and Paschall is understandable, because the Warriors were winning so many games, and not landing in good draft position. But the eight-year gap between J-Rich and Curry? Absolutely brutal.

It featured: Mike Dunleavy Jr. 3rd overall in 2002 (ahead of four First-Teamers and four Second-Teamers); Mickaël Piétrus 11th overall in 2003 (ahead of two Second-Teamers); Andris Biedriņš 11th overall in 2004 (ahead of three Second-Teamers); Ike Diogu 9th overall in 2005 (ahead of three Second-Teamers); Patrick O’Bryant 9th overall in 2006 (ahead of one First-Teamer and three Second-Teamers); Brandan Wright 8th overall in 2007 (ahead of one First-Teamer and three Second-Teamers); and Anthony Randolph 14th overall in 2008 (ahead of one Second-Teamer).

What a time to be alive.

Marc Jackson — 2000-01 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Kenyon Martin, Mike Miller, Darius Miles, Morris Peterson
Sophomore stats: 12.7 minutes, 4.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game

Before Mark Jackson led the Warriors, Marc Jackson led the Warriors ... and inspired this website’s tagline: Unstoppable, baby!

Unfortunately, he peaked his rookie year, and was traded the next season.

Antawn Jamison — 1998-99 Second Team

All-Rookie teammates: Michael Olowokandi, Cuttino Mobley, Michael Dickerson, Michael Doleac
Sophomore stats: 36.2 minutes, 19.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game

In a way, you could make the case that Jamison never quite lived up to the hype of his dynamic rookie season, as he would “only” make two All-Star teams in his career. But what a fun and talented player he was.

Joe Smith — 1995-96 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley, Arvydas Sabonis, Damon Stoudamire, Antonio McDyess
Sophomore stats: 38.6 minutes, 18.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game

It’s easier to appreciate how good Smith’s two-and-a-half-year tenure with the Warriors — he first of 12 NBA teams — was if you don’t look at the list of players drafted after the 1995 No. 1 overall pick.

Donyell Marshall — 1994-95 Second Team

All-Rookie teammates: Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Wesley Person, Eric Montross, Sharone Wright
Sophomore stats: 15.1 minutes, 5.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game

Marshall counts as a Warriors All-Rookie player even though he began his career elsewhere, since he was traded to the Warriors halfway through his rookie season in the Tom Gugliotta trade.

Chris Webber — 1993-94 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Penny Hardaway, Vin Baker, Jamal Mashburn, Isaiah Rider
Sophomore stats: 38.3 minutes, 20.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists

Webber’s second-year stats look much nicer before you remember that he was already off the Warriors by then.

Latrell Sprewell — 1992-93 Second Team

All-Rookie teammates: Robert Horry, Walt Williams, Clarence Weatherspoon, Richard Dumas
Sophomore stats: 43.1 minutes, 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game

The lesson here seems to be that Warriors who make the All-Rookie team often have ugly endings to their tenure with the Dubs. Don’t let it happen, Podz!

Billy Owens — 1991-92 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Dikembe Mutombo, Larry Johnson, Steve Smith, Stacey Augmon
Sophomore stats: 32.5 minutes, 16.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists

Owens lasted a whole three seasons with the Warriors, which seems like quite a lot given some of the names on this list thus far.

Tim Hardaway — 1989-90 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: David Robinson, Vlade Divac, Sherman Douglas, Pooh Richardson
Sophomore stats: 39.2 minutes, 22.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game

Well ... that’s much better!

Mitch Richmond — 1988-89 First Team

All-Rookie teammates: Rik Smits, Charles Smith, Hersey Hawkins, Willie Anderson
Sophomore stats: 35.9 minutes, 22.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game

It’s not quite drafting Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in consecutive drafts, but my goodness ... what a run!

Larry Smith and Joe Barry Carroll — 1980-81

All-Rookie teammates: Kevin McHale, Kelvin Ransey, Darrell Griffith
Smith’s sophomore stats: 29.9 minutes, 7.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game
Carroll’s sophomore stats: 34.6 minutes, 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game

Whenever you get two players on the All-Rookie First Team, you know you’ve done something right.

Gus Williams — 1975-76

All-Rookie teammates: Alvan Adams, Lionel Hollins, Joe Meriweather, John Shumate
Sophomore stats: 23.5 minutes, 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game

A tough scene. Williams had a great rookie year, struggled a bit his second season, and then moved on to different teams ... where he took off.

Jamaal Wilkes — 1974-75

All-Rookie teammates: John Drew, Scott Wedman, Tommy Burleson, Brian Winters
Sophomore stats: 33.1 minutes, 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists

Wilkes’ best days may have come with the Lakers, but things started with the Warriors, and ... OK, maybe that doesn’t make you feel better. I’ll stop talking.

Rick Barry and Fred Hetzel — 1965-66

All-Rookie teammates: Billy Cunningham, Tom Van Arsdale, Dick Van Arsdale
Barry’s sophomore stats: 40.7 minutes, 35.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game
Hetzel’s sophomore stats: 27.6 minutes, 12.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game

What an All-Rookie team! A pair of teammates and a pair of identical twins!

Nate Thurmond — 1963-64

All-Rookie teammates: Jerry Lucas, Gus Johnson, Art Heyman, Rod Thorn
Sophomore stats: 41.2 minutes, 16.5 points, 18.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game

And here’s where it all started: with Nate Thurmond.