The Golden State Warriors have built championship teams over the years, and a lot of that success comes straight from the NBA draft. Seriously, the most talented players to rock a Dubs jersey either got picked right in the annual draft or came in through a draft-night trade. They’ve grabbed top stars and a bunch of other notable players from all kinds of schools. But what about Purdue? It turns out the Warriors have dipped into the Boilermaker well a few times, with one pick standing head and shoulders above the rest.
The Big Swings: First Rounders and Staying Power
When you talk about Purdue players drafted by the Warriors, you have to start with **Joe Barry Carroll**. This dude was a center, and the Warriors took him **first overall** in the 1980 NBA Draft. Think about that for a second: the very first pick in the entire draft! Carroll spent four seasons dominating at Purdue before landing in Golden State, and he stuck around for **seven seasons** with the Warriors. That’s a serious commitment, a real cornerstone of a draft class. Fast forward a few years, and they went back to a Purdue center with **Russell Cross**, who also played three seasons for Purdue and put in **one season** with the Warriors.
The Grind and the Misses: Early Draft Chances
Before Carroll, the Warriors took a few other swings at Purdue talent that didn’t quite pan out the same way. Back in 1972, they grabbed forward **Bill Franklin** in the **7th round (13th pick, 110th overall)**. Franklin played three seasons at Purdue, but he never actually made the team roster. Talk about a tough break, right? Two years later, in 1974, they picked forward **Frank Kendrick** in the **3rd round (11th pick, 47th overall)**. Kendrick spent three seasons at Purdue and did manage to play **one season** with the Warriors. Then there was guard **Jerry Sichting**, drafted in the **4th round (16th pick, 82nd overall)** in the 1979 NBA Draft after four seasons at Purdue. Like Franklin, Sichting didn’t make the team. It really shows you how hard it is to stick in this league, even for drafted guys.
So, when you look at the full picture of Warriors draft picks from Purdue, it’s a mixed bag. They’ve had guys who didn’t make it, some who stuck for a season, and then the monumental **Joe Barry Carroll** who was a **No. 1 overall pick** and played seven seasons. It just goes to show you, the draft is a total gamble, and sometimes you hit big, sometimes you don’t even get to lace up the sneakers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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