Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors play in the Pacific Division of the NBA's Western Conference. The Warriors were founded in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors, winning the championship in the league's first season (1946/47). The team was relocated to San Francisco in 1962. They won the 1963/64 Western Division title, but lost in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics.

The team changed their name to the Golden State Warriors in the 1971/72 season as they began playing almost all of their home games in Oakland. The Warriors were a success after their move, going onto make the NBA Playoffs every season from 1971 through to 1977. In 1974/75 the Warriors would go on and win the NBA Championship by beating the favored Washington Bullets in a four game sweep.

The late 1970's and most of the 1980's, the Warriors were a team in decline. They lost a couple of key players at the end of the 70's in Rick Barry and Jamaal wilkes, and went through a handful of coaches. In 1985 though, the Warriors would make a sound move, by drafting sharp-shooting Chris Mullin from St. John's University.

Throughout the late 80's and 90's, the Warriors became known as 'Run T.M.C' (named after the rap group, Run-D.M.C). With Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Mullin, the Warriors were an exciting team. Coach Don Nelson decided to break up the trio however, by sending Richmond to the Sacramento Kings for Billy Owens. In the 1993/94, the Warriors selected Chris Webber with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft.

From 1995-2006, the Warriors never made the Playoffs, going through various lows. They selected Todd Fuller before Kobe Bryant; they selected Adonal Foyle while Tracy McGrady was still available]]; Latrell Sprewell choked coach P.J. Carlesimo; and through several bad salaries, they were unable to resign their rising star, Gilbert Arenas in 2003.

The Warriors were able to turn things around in 2007. With a strong squad assembled by re-hired coach, Don Nelson, the Warriors made the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The Warriors would become the first number 8 seed to defeat a number 1 seed in a seven game series.

The last three seasons has seen the Warriors trade away the core of their 2007 Playoff team, with a fresh look to the team. With young guards, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry in the backcourt, and a number 6 pick in the upcoming [[2010 NBA Draft], the Warriors can look forward to prosperous years ahead.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/gsw/news

In what was a pretty uneventful year for the Warriors, the top story of the 2009 year, was the drafting of yougn guard, Stephen Curry. Curry was the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, after playing three seasons at Davidson.

At just 21 years of age, and a prodigious college career under his belt, the Warriors have young hopes for the 6-3 guard. With a college average of 25.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 32.6 minutes of action, high expectations are being placed on Curry's slender shoulders.

In Curry's first full season in the league, he averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.9 steals in 36.2 minutes each game. Curry was a unanimous selection for the NBA 2010 All-Rookie First Team, and was second in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting behind Sacramento King's guard, Tyreke Evans.

With Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry returning for the 2010/2011 season and a number 6 draft pick, the story of the next year, may just be the Warriors returning to the Playoffs.

In recent news, the Golden State Warriors were awarded the six overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery on May 18, 2010. The Warriors held the fourth worst record in the regular season, giving them a chance of securing the number one pick. They fell to secure the sixth pick in the NBA Draft on June 24, 2010.

• Paul Arizin
• Rick Barry
• Wilt Chamberlain
• Joe Fulks
• Tom Gola
• Neil Johnston
• Jerry Lucas
• Robert Parish
• Andy Phillip
• Nate Thurmond