In a jaw-dropping twist that’s got the NBA buzzing, Golden State Warriors rookie guard Will Richard has exploded onto the scene through the first 15 games of his debut season, shattering every preconceived notion after slipping to the 56th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft. This under-the-radar phenom is serving up humble pie to draft pundits left and right, none more so than The Athletic’s sharp-eyed guru Sam Vecenie, who didn’t even peg Richard as draft-worthy just months ago.
Vecenie didn’t mince words when pressed on the biggest shocker in this year’s rookie crop, straight-up admitting he left Richard out of his top 70 prospects heading into draft night. “I just didn’t think he was quite big enough and athletic enough to hold up on defense or really make waves offensively beyond maybe draining threes at a solid clip,” Vecenie spilled on The Athletic NBA Daily podcast. But hold the phone—Vecenie’s flipped the script hard, slotting Richard into his top 10 rookie rankings now. “I had him at like 76 or something on my board,” he confessed, tipping his hat to the kid’s meteoric rise.
To be fair, Vecenie wasn’t flying solo in the skepticism camp. Heavy hitters like ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, along with Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, all snubbed the Florida standout from their two-round mock drafts back in June. But the Warriors’ brain trust, led by GM Mike Dunleavy Jr., saw something special in the 6’4″ sharpshooter. Armed with the 41st pick, they wheeled and dealed with the Phoenix Suns to snag the 52nd and 59th selections. They grabbed Australian forward Alex Toohey at 52—he’s still waiting in the wings for his NBA debut—then flipped assets with the Memphis Grizzlies to climb up to 56 and secure Richard’s rights.
What a rollercoaster for Richard: from second-round afterthought to locking down a starting spot on a battle-tested, playoff-hungry squad. The NBA world was left speechless when he dropped a monster 30-piece on the Sacramento Kings just two weeks back, and he’s kept the heat on, pouring in at least nine points in five of his last six outings while earning the nod in the starting five for the past three games.
Suddenly, this rookie’s trajectory screams All-Rookie Team caliber by April— a prediction that would’ve drawn laughs from coast to coast before the Warriors tipped off their campaign. Richard’s not just surviving in the league; he’s thriving, proving that sometimes the biggest steals come wrapped in late-round packaging. Warriors fans, buckle up—this kid’s story is just getting started.