Golden State Warriors Blog – Page 27 – NBA Blog

Warriors add Willie Green to coaching staff

The Warriors have added Willie Green to Steve Kerr’s coaching staff as an assistant coach/player development.

Green, 35, played 12 seasons in the NBA, posting averages of 8.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 731 regular-season games with the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Magic. Originally selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round (41st overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft, Green was acquired by the 76ers in a draft night trade and spent his first seven seasons in Philadelphia—including six seasons as a teammate of Warriors forward Andre Iguodala. Green, who last played with Orlando in 2014-15, qualified for the postseason seven times over his 12-year career, averaging 5.2 points over 36 playoff games.

A native of Detroit, Mich., Green attended the University of Detroit Mercy, where he was named Horizon League Player of the Year as a senior in 2002-03.

Steve Kerr says Kevin Durant is no villain

The Warriors won 73 games last season, reached the NBA Finals, and then this offseason added superstar Kevin Durant as a free agent. Durant joined the team that beat his Thunder squad in the Western Conference Finals. Here’s ESPN.com reporting Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s words:

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr says it’s “absurd” to cast Kevin Durant as a villain because he left the Oklahoma City Thunder as a free agent and joined the Warriors this summer.

“To think of Kevin Durant or Steph Curry or any of our guys as villains, it’s kind of absurd. Especially Kevin,” Kerr said Sunday in an interview on ESPN Radio’s TMI with Michelle Beadle and Ramona Shelburne. “This is one of the most likeable people in this league. He’s just an awesome human being. What he did in Oklahoma City was just amazing for that community.

Kerr added: “Circumstances kind of dictate, I guess, that some people are going to see him as a villain. But it’s only because he decided to go elsewhere to play. He wanted to change his scenery, he wanted a new challenge. More than anything he wanted to play with our guys. He loves Draymond [Green] and Steph and Klay [Thompson] and Andre [Iguodala]. Seeing those guys in New York, he loved seeing the chemistry that exists and he wanted to be a part of it.”

Anderson Varejao will miss Olympics with back injury

Warriors center Anderson Varejao was examined earlier in the week week by Dr. Robert Watkins at the Marina Spine Center in Marina Del Rey, CA, and was diagnosed with a small lower back disc herniation. He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, but will be forced to miss the 2016 Summer Olympics due to the injury. He is from Brazil, who is this year’s Olympic host country.

Varejao recently experienced back pain while participating with the Brazilian National Team and returned to California to be examined by Dr. Watkins, a renowned spine specialist.

Warriors re-sign Anderson Varejao

The Warriors have re-signed free agent center Anderson Varejao.

With Andrew Bogut gone and Zaza Pachulia on board, Varejao could have an increased role on the squad next season. Though, the team only uses a conventional center for some of the game, so he’s still expected to be a limited-use player on this roster.

Varejao, 33, appeared in 22 regular-season games with the Warriors last season, averaging 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 8.4 minutes. In 17 playoff appearances, the 6-10 center averaged 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.5 minutes. Varejao originally signed with the Warriors on Feb. 22, 2016, after spending his first 11-plus seasons with the Cavaliers. The Santa Teresa, Brazil, native owns career averages of 7.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 24.4 minutes over 613 games (208 starts) with the Warriors and Cavaliers.

Originally selected by the Orlando Magic in the second round (30th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft, Varejao was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2009-10 and finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting that season. Prior to making his NBA debut during the 2004-05 campaign, he played professionally for three seasons with FC Barcelona in Spain’s top league, Liga ACB.

Warriors legend Nate Thurmond has died

Nate Thurmond, voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history and a member of the Warriors organization for more than four decades as both a player and a Community Relations Ambassador, passed away this morning in San Francisco at the age of 74 after a short battle with leukemia.

Considered one of the best centers to ever play the game of basketball, Thurmond was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985. A seven-time NBA All-Star, he earned NBA All-Defensive First or Second Team accolades five times. His Warriors jersey #42 was retired on March 8, 1978, one of six players to have his number retired by the Warriors along with Alvin Attles (#16), Rick Barry (#24), Wilt Chamberlain (#13), Tom Meschery (#14) and Chris Mullin (#17).

Over a 14 year NBA career – the first 11 of which were played with the San Francisco and Golden State Warriors – Thurmond held averages of 15.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game, including averaging 20.5 points and 22.0 rebounds during the 1967-68 campaign to join Wilt Chamberlain as the only Warriors to post at least 20 points and 20 boards in a single season.

“Big Nate,” who was selected third overall by the San Francisco Warriors in the 1963 NBA Draft following his collegiate career at Bowling Green, remains the franchise’s all-time leader in rebounds (12,771) and minutes played (30,735).

Thurmond became the first player to record an official quadruple-double as a member of the Chicago Bulls, tallying 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocks against the Atlanta Hawks on October 18, 1974.

Following his illustrious playing career, Thurmond spent more than 30 years as a valued asset to the Warriors’ community relations department.

Warriors sign rookie center Damian Jones

The Golden State Warriors have signed rookie center Damian Jones to a contract.

All players selected in the first round of the draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they wish to begin their NBA career right away.

Jones, 21, was selected by the Warriors with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft on June 23. In three seasons at Vanderbilt University, the 6’10” center averaged 13.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.69 blocks and 27.2 minutes in 99 games, garnering First Team All-SEC honors as both a sophomore and junior. Jones hit 56.6 percent from the field during his collegiate career, the third-best mark in Vanderbilt history, while finishing second on the school’s all-time blocks list (167). In his junior season in 2015-16, Jones averaged 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.64 blocks in 33 games, helping the Commodores to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011-12.

Warriors re-sign James Michael McAdoo

The Golden State Warriors have re-signed free agent forward James Michael McAdoo.

McAdoo, 23, appeared in 41 regular-season games with the Warriors last season (one start), averaging 2.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.4 minutes per contest. In eight postseason games, the 6-9 forward tallied 0.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 4.8 minutes.

A two-year NBA veteran, McAdoo owns career averages of 3.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 7.1 minutes in 56 regular-season games (one start) with the Warriors. As a rookie in 2014-15, the University of North Carolina product was a member of Golden State’s first championship season in 40 years.

Warriors sign center Zaza Pachulia

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Zaza Pachulia, the team announced today.

Pachulia’s deal is reportedly just a $2.9 million dollar contract for one year. A relative bargain by this summer’s signing standards.

With Andrew Bogut traded away to Dallas, Pachulia should get some minutes. He’s a very good rebounder, but not as good a defender as Bogut. And Pachulia rarely blocks any shots. But, the team did need center depth, and he certainly provides that. This is overall an excellent signing.

Pachulia, 32, averaged 8.6 points and a career-high 9.4 rebounds to go with 1.7 assists and 26.4 minutes in 76 regular-season games (69 starts) with the Dallas Mavericks in 2015-16. The 6-11 center ranked 14th in the league in rebounding and posted a career-high 26 double-doubles in his lone season with the Mavericks. In five playoff games (four starts), Pachulia averaged 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 22.4 minutes.

A 13-year NBA veteran, Pachulia owns career averages of 7.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 21.5 minutes in 891 regular-season games (386 starts) with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks. Originally selected by the Magic in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft, the Georgian-born center spent a season with the Magic before being selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004 NBA Expansion Draft and subsequently traded to Milwaukee. After a year with the Bucks, Pachulia enjoyed an eight-year run with the Hawks that included four postseason appearances. Pachulia has appeared in the postseason six times in his career, tallying averages of 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 18.9 minutes in 51 career playoff games (11 starts) with the Hawks, Bucks and Mavericks.

Pachulia will wear #27 for the Warriors.

Warriors sign David West

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent power forward David West.

West, 35, averaged 7.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 18.0 minutes in 78 regular-season games (19 starts) with the San Antonio Spurs in 2015-16. The 6-9 forward shot 54.5 percent from the field and 78.8 percent from the free throw line. In 10 playoff games during his lone season with the Spurs, he averaged 5.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17.6 minutes.

A 13-year NBA veteran, West owns career averages of 14.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 30.6 minutes in 893 regular-season games with the New Orleans Hornets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs. Originally drafted by the Hornets with the 18th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, West spent the first eight years of his career with the Hornets and was a Western Conference All-Star in 2007 and 2008. After leaving the Hornets, he played four seasons in Indiana before joining the Spurs last season. In 83 career playoff games, West has averaged 14.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

A native of Teaneck, New Jersey, West played collegiately for four seasons at Xavier, earning the Associated Press Player of the Year Award as a senior in 2002-03.

West will wear #3 for the Warriors.

Mavericks sign Harrison Barnes

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed forward Harrison Barnes. He was a restricted free agent, and his former team, the Warriors, declined to match the Mavs’ offer sheet.

Barnes’ deal is reportedly a $94 million dollar contract over four years.

Barnes has shown flashes of big-time talent, but his role on the Warriors was mostly that of a role player. Which is understandable, considering how great some of his Golden State teammates were. Still, it remains to be seen if Barnes can emerge as a leading man himself.

Barnes (6-8, 225) played his first four NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors (2012-16) and was a restricted free agent with the club. He holds career averages of 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 28.1 minutes in 307 games (246 starts) while shooting 44.6 percent (295-of-633) from the field, 37.6 percent (287-of-764) from 3-point range and 73.9 percent (484-of-655) from the line. He was a member of the Warriors’ 2015 NBA championship team.

The Warriors selected Barnes with the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. As a rookie in 2012-13, he appeared in 81 games (all starts) and averaged 9.2 points and 4.1 rebounds en route to earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.

In 2014-15, Barnes started all 82 regular-season games for the eventual NBA champion Warriors. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds while posting career highs in field goal percentage (.482) and 3-point field goal percentage (.405). The following season (2015-16), Barnes averaged 11.7 and 4.9 rebounds while helping the Warriors win an NBA-record 73 games.

Barnes increased his scoring average in each of his first four seasons. After drafting Barnes in 2012, Golden State went on to reach the playoffs in each of the next four years. What’s more, when Barnes helped the Warriors reach the playoffs as a rookie in 2012-13, it was just their second playoff appearance in the last 19 years and their first since 2006-07.

The Ames, Iowa, native played two seasons at the University of North Carolina, earning First Team All-ACC honors as a sophomore in 2011-12. He declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore season.