The Golden State Warriors have done it again, unearthing a gem in the late rounds of the NBA Draft that could reshape their championship trajectory. This time, it’s Will Richard, a second-round steal who might just be the X-factor the Warriors need to dominate the 2025-26 season.
This summer, the Warriors added two former national champions from the Florida Gators, both fresh off cutting down the nets. Veteran center Al Horford, a marquee acquisition, has understandably stolen the spotlight. His ability to stretch the floor and anchor the defense at center gives Golden State a new dimension. But while Horford’s arrival is a headline-grabber, it’s the lesser-known Gator, Will Richard, who could prove to be the Warriors’ secret weapon.
Selected with the 56th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft’s second round, Richard was a starter on Florida’s title-winning team last season. Lacking a single standout skill, he slid down draft boards, overlooked by a league fixated on flashier prospects. But the Warriors, masters of finding value where others see scraps, traded up to snag him. This move fits their recent track record of late-draft brilliance: Trayce Jackson-Davis (57th pick, 2023) and Quenten Post (52nd pick, 2024) have both become reliable rotation players, a rarity for picks that late.
Unlike Jackson-Davis and Post, who are locked into the center position, Richard brings something different. At 6’4” with a 6’10” wingspan, he’s shown remarkable versatility in the preseason, toggling between shooting guard and power forward. His defensive tenacity and ability to adapt to multiple roles on offense—honed during his time at Florida—are already translating to the NBA.
Richard’s early impact has been impossible to ignore. In the Warriors’ season opener, a rare opportunity for a rookie on a title-contending team, he played 14 minutes, went 2-for-2 from the field, and brought relentless energy on defense. But it was in the team’s second game, a nationally televised overtime thriller against the Denver Nuggets, that Richard announced himself. Playing 17 minutes against a Western Conference powerhouse, he was everywhere—making sharp defensive rotations, crashing the boards, and delivering pinpoint passes to set up teammates. His performance embodied the intangibles coaches rave about: grit, passion, and an unshakable motor. The Warriors prevailed, and Richard was a key reason why.
While Jackson-Davis and Post are valuable, their roles diminish in the playoffs when Draymond Green slides to center for Golden State’s most lethal lineups. Horford’s presence further crowds the center rotation, especially since he’ll sit out back-to-backs. Richard, however, operates on the wing, a position of need where he can complement the Warriors’ core stars—Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and company—even in their highest-stakes moments.
Richard isn’t poised to become a superstar like Green, but he could carve out a career akin to Danny Green, a role player who became indispensable on multiple championship teams. His ability to defend, hustle, and make smart plays fits perfectly with the Warriors’ style. Still, his path to a consistent role won’t be easy. Moses Moody’s return will eat into wing minutes, and Richard’s struggles in a blowout loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the team’s third game served as a reminder that he’s still a second-round rookie finding his footing.
Yet if Richard continues to flash the potential he’s shown—a reliable, impactful glue guy—there’s a clear place for him in Golden State’s rotation. The Warriors have a history of turning overlooked draft picks into game-changers, and Richard’s early performances suggest he could be next. As the season unfolds, the league is on notice: Will Richard might just be the piece that pushes the Warriors over the top, changing their fate when the lights are brightest.