Golden State Warriors: All-Time Starting 5

Some of basketball's greatest players have worn a Warriors jersey. This list is based on my opinion as a fan of the greatest Warriors at each position. Imagine the five in this slideshow being on the same team!

Honorable Mentions

 - "Pitchin' Paul" Arizin

 - Robert Parish

 - Mitch Richmond

 - Chris Mullin

 - Baron Davis

Point Guard: Tim Hardaway

Tim Hardaway was the prototype for today's floor generals. He has been credited with pioneering the crossover dribble. Hardaway's crossover was deemed "the killer crossover" and "the UTEP two-step" (during his college years at the University of Texas at El Paso).

Point guards are charged with the task of spreading the floor and creating the offense. Timmy didn't just spread the floor, he shredded it. With his crossover and quick feet, he carved up the hardwood. He could finish at the rim with ease, and with his court vision, he could always find his open perimeter players.

Shooting Guard: Monta Ellis

Ellis is probably the most prolific scorer in franchise history since Wilt Chamberlain. Opposing teams have to focus their defense on him. Not many can finish at the rim like Monta. Just watch some of his highlights in the video. He gets his teammates some pretty good looks as well.

Ellis is currently ranked first in minutes, third in steals and eighth in scoring for the regular season. I'm eager to see a team built around this kid.

Small Forward: Rick Barry

Barry led the Warriors to their last championship, and that should be enough. Barry was a team leader. He was one of the most well-rounded Warriors ever. His offensive game and defensive game were equally threatening. At small forward the Warriors wouldn't have a wing man perimeter threat like Rick Barry until Chris Mullin. Lastly, Barry's drive to win was a passion only possessed by the great ones.

Power Forward: Nate Thurmond

Nate "The Great." His nickname says it all. Although he mostly played center, Nate played the power forward position his rookie season, while Chamberlain was still the big man on campus. He was praised by opposing big men Bob Pettit, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt was reported to have said that Thurmond would be an all-star starting center, which he was immediately after Wilt's departure from the Warriors.

The greatest Warrior to never win a championship (and that's a large group), Nate was an all-star in the era of Wilt, and this was probably his curse. If Nate and Wilt didn't exist in the same era, Nate would be, well, just as "great" as Wilt. Nate averaged over 20 points a game for five of his seasons with the Warriors. He is second only to Wilt in rebounds for an NBA Finals series. Nate had 160 in the '67 finals against Wilt, though Chamberlain pulled down 171 during their series. Nate is also ranked fifth all time in total career rebounds.

A proven double-double machine, "The Great" became the first player in NBA history to officially record a quadruple-double after being traded to the Bulls. Nate was traded to the Bulls just before the '74-'75 Warriors' championship season, which some say would have been repeated if Thurmond had stayed.

Center: Wilt Chamberlain

"Wilt the Stilt." "Chairman of the Boards." "Goliath."

Considered by many to be the greatest ever to play the center position, Wilt never won a championship with the Warriors. But had he stayed, rather than opting to go home to Philadelphia......I imagine things would have been much different.

While with the Warriors franchise he scored his 100-point game. Additionally, after entering the NBA at 7'1", 250 lbs, he bulked up to 275, becoming a beast. This was probably the most athletic period of his career and the most humble. Later, his ego would blow up with the 76ers and Lakers. He would also blow up physically to 300 lbs with the Lakers. Though he was still pretty dominant, I'm a fan of the younger less-heavy "Goliath." In my opinion, Wilt's best years were with the W's. If we only built on "the Stilt" and made a dynasty.................Well, "what if" is a road too familiar for Warrior fans.