The Golden State Warriors chosen solely two second-round picks within the 2025 NBA Draft.
Alex Toohey went 52nd total whereas Will Richard was chosen 56th, alternatives that may appear underwhelming at first look.
Nonetheless, the Warriors have historical past with the second rounders and final season’s story additionally affords a special perspective on their late-round technique.
The Warriors had only one second-round choice final 12 months, utilizing it on middle Quinten Put up. That decide reworked into one of many franchise’s most nice surprises.
Put up’s success story has motivated Toohey, who shares the identical draft place and comparable circumstances getting into the group.
“He’s an incredible story, being a second spherical decide like myself and Will, it exhibits the Warriors worth expertise. If you’re ok, they are going to discover room for you,” Toohey defined.
The Australian ahead has acquired steering from Put up throughout his early days with the crew. “The conversations with him, he’s an incredible individual, he’s a chill man, he’s given me lots of recommendation,” Toohey stated.
Put up earned vital minutes halfway by the season and established himself as a dependable contributor.
He averaged 16.3 minutes per sport with 8.1 factors, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists throughout his rookie marketing campaign.
Probably the most spectacular side of Put up’s improvement was his three-point capturing. The large man linked on 40.8% of his makes an attempt from past the arc, offering the Warriors with beneficial flooring spacing from the middle place.
Toohey demonstrated promising potential throughout Summer season League play, together with a 15-point, five-rebound efficiency towards the Utah Jazz.
The versatile ahead can function each on the perimeter and within the paint, although he lacks Put up’s instant capturing capacity. Nonetheless, his talent set suggests room for improvement in that space.
“I’m positively prepared. It’s an adjustment from any league to the NBA, the athletes are higher, the tempo is quicker, having the ability to have that psychological fortitude to adapt, and simply get higher every day,” Toohey famous.
Enhancing his off-ball motion, three-point capturing, and defensive consistency may place Toohey as one other beneficial function participant within the Warriors’ system, following Put up’s blueprint for second-round success.
