The Golden State Warriors played without their star Stephen Curry but rookie Will Richard rose to the occasion in a tight 121-116 loss to the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night.
Richard made his first career NBA start and delivered a strong performance, scoring 30 points on 10 of 15 shooting (66.7%), including 5 of 8 from three-point range (62.5%). He also contributed seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 35 minutes on the court.
“Will was amazing,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “From the beginning of camp, he’s shown he’s an NBA player and the experience, the poise. He doesn’t turn it over. He can handle the ball under pressure. This guy’s a hell of a player.”
The Warriors acquired Richard’s draft rights by trading with the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft, giving up their 59th pick and a conditional future second-round pick. Richard played three years with the Florida Gators, becoming the first transfer commit by coach Todd Golden and his staff, after transferring from Belmont.
Despite the loss, Richard’s debut showed promise for the Warriors’ future lineup.
Rookie Will Richard demonstrated exceptional skill and composure in his first NBA start, signaling a bright future ahead.