The Golden State Warriors arrived in Memphis on Wednesday night carrying the weight of a frustrating loss. Tuesday in New Orleans had been another reminder of how thin this roster has become — a 113-109 defeat to the Pelicans that dropped them back to the edge of the playoff picture with no margin to spare.
The injury list had not gotten any shorter. Stephen Curry remains out with a knee injury. Kristaps Porzingis, who has played one game since January 17, stayed back. Draymond Green was unavailable. Jimmy Butler‘s season is over. The Warriors were, by any measure, shorthanded.
Wednesday night called for someone to step up. It just wasn’t who most people expected.
Richard Joins Flagg, Knueppel in the History Books
GettyWill Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors.
Will Richard delivered the best game of his career. The rookie guard finished with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding five rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 30 minutes as Golden State rolled past the Memphis Grizzlies 133-112. Eight Warriors reached double figures, but none of them topped Richard’s output.
The line placed him in rare company. Only Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Jeremiah Fears had put up at least 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a single game this season among rookies. Richard became the fourth. That context matters. Flagg went second overall in last summer’s draft. Knueppel went fifth. Fears went ninth. Richard was the 56th pick.
A second-round selection outperforming expectations is one thing. Joining the statistical conversation with the best rookies in the league is another.
— Will Richard (NEW) — Cooper Flagg — Kon Knueppel — Jeremiah Fears
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What the Numbers Actually Say
The performance was not a fluke, and the numbers tell a story that Golden State’s front office would be wise to pay attention to. When Richard plays 30 or more minutes, he averages 16.6 points per game. Wednesday was just the fifth time all season he reached that threshold.
On a per-36 basis, he projects to nearly 13 points, 2.7 assists, and over two made threes per game. The defensive instincts — three steals Wednesday, elite pick-and-roll coverage — have been evident all season. What has been inconsistent is the opportunity. Richard has started 16 games this season but his role has fluctuated, preventing him from finding a consistent rhythm. Steve Kerr empowers his young players in waves. The challenge is sustaining it. Wednesday suggested that when the leash is extended, Richard knows what to do with it.
What Comes Next for the Warriors
Golden State is 31-28 and sitting eighth in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Lakers coming to Chase Center on Saturday. The playoff picture is there. The margin for error is not.
Richard will likely slide back to the bench when De’Anthony Melton returns from his knee injury — that pattern has repeated itself throughout the season. But the argument for keeping him on the floor is growing harder to ignore. The Warriors gave up Jonathan Kuminga. Porzingis has barely played. Butler is done. This roster needs contributors who can perform at both ends, and Richard has shown he can be one.
He will not replace Curry. He is not trying to. But on a night when Golden State needed someone to carry the weight, a 56th pick from the University of Florida carried it.
Final Word for the Warriors
The Warriors won Wednesday because eight players stepped up without four of their best. That is the kind of effort that keeps a playoff push alive.
Richard’s night was the headline. A career-high on the road, the kind of complete performance that makes a coaching staff reconsider rotation decisions. The Warriors have the Lakers on Saturday and a decision to make about what comes next for their most surprising young player.
He has made that decision harder to avoid.
Warriors’ Unlikely Hero Makes History With Wild Rookie Stat