25 Greatest Individual Seasons in Golden State Warriors Franchise History

The Golden State Warriors have seen quite a few great players come through their franchise, most notably Nate Thurmond, Rick Barry and Wilt Chamberlain, who are predominantly featured on this list. 

These three guys are certainly the most famous Warriors of all time and had some great individual seasons, but what stands out for this franchise and to the digression of many current Warriors fans is that for the first 30 years that the NBA held an All-Star Game, the Warriors saw 63 All-Star appearances, and for the last 30 years, we've seen 14 appearances.

All-Star games are not the end all for stats, but it definitely serves as a barometer in forming a list like this. Were they the best of the best in their respective year or era?

I would've loved to be able to put more (or any) current Warrior seasons on this list, but I guess looking at it like the Warriors of years past were just that much better is the best way to view things.

Nevertheless, here are the 25 greatest individual seasons made by any player wearing a Warrior uniform.

25. Baron Davis 06-07

20.1 PTS 8.1 AST 2.1 STL

The only non All-Star appearance season on this list, but I thought his season belonged on this list.

Despite only playing in 62 games and it not being his statistically best season as a Warrior, this was the year he lifted up a team and a city and guided the Warriors to their first playoff series win in 15 years.

For all the losing the Warriors have endured the last few years, that alone that makes this one of the best seasons in Warrior history.

24. Sleepy Floyd 86-87

18.8 PTS 10.3 AST 1.8 STL 49 FG% 

The Warriors all-time assist leader had his finest Warrior season here, averaging a double-double, which led to his only All-Star Appearance for his career. 

Also as a point guard who shot 49 percent from the field helped lead to this selection.

23. Tim Hardaway 90-91

22.9 PTS 9.7 AST 2.6 STL 48 FG%  39 3P FG%

Tim Hardaway brought together the most exciting basketball the Warriors had seen in, maybe ever, as he came along to form RUN T-M-C with Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond.

Unfortunately, it lasted for only two years, but as the third member of that group this year, he helped lead them to the Western Conference Semifinals with fantastic numbers.

22. Guy Rodgers 65-66

18.6 PTS 5.3 REB 10.7 AST

Guy Rodgers holds the Warrior single season assist per game record, as he made one of his four All-Star appearances.

Of course, after accomplishing that, he was in a different uniform the next season.

21. Chris Mullin 88-89

26.5 PTS 5.5 REB 5.1 AST 2.0 STL

This was year one of a brilliant four-year stretch that included four All-Star appearances in which he only missed five games over four years.

He was fourth in total points this year and ninth in player efficiency this year, his highest rating ever. 

20. Tim Hardaway 91-92

23.4 PTS 10.0 AST 2.0 STL

Another brilliant year by Hardaway, where he averaged his first double-double as a Warrior and shot 46 percent from the field while taking nearly 20 shots a game.

Not to mention he was one of the most exciting players to watch and one of the toughest to defend. 

The trade of Hardaway for Bimbo Coles and Kevin Willis is not nearly talked about enough as being one of the worst trades ever. 

19. Latrell Sprewell 93-94

17.5 PTS 4.1 REB  3.9 AST 1.8 STL

Sprewell is now a trivia answer to the question "who is the last Warrior to be selected to the All-Star game?" Fourteen years is a long time.

Spree had his greatest NBA season in 1993-94, which included being selected to the All-NBA First Team.

As good as his season was, for the Warriors, it unfortunately meant the beginning of an end. After a first-round playoff exit this season, the following season was the first of 12 consecutive losing seasons. 

18. Chris Mullin 90-91

25.7 PTS 5.4 REB 4.0 AST 1.9 STL 0.7 BLK 

A Second Team All-NBA selection, which could have easily been a first team selection when you look at his next year when....

17. Chris Mullin 91-92

25.6 PTS 5.6 REB 3.5 AST 2.1 STL 0.7 BLK

His next season was almost identical. I included blocks only becasue they were the exact same.

He was nothing if not consistent.

Truly one of the greatest Warriors of time, this year is probably considered his best, as it included his only First Team All-NBA selection.

This was also the second consecutive season that he led the league in minutes played.

16. Joe Fulks 46-47

23.2 PTS

Joe Fulks led the Warriors to a title this year, as he led the league in points per game. What's even more amazing is that he did it on 31 percent shooting that year. 

He led the league in PPG the next year, too, and by shooting 26 percent!

I could see basketball not being that popular in this era. 

15. Neil Johnston 55-56

21.5 PTS 12.1 REB 3.1 AST  

Neil Johnson, along with Paul Arizin, led the Warriors to their second NBA championship this season.

Not his best season statistically, but ended with a championship, with Johnson leading the league in field goal percentage, making it a memorable season. 

14. Paul Arizin 51-52

25.4 PTS 11.3 REB 45 FG%  

Arzin had his finest year of his Hall of Fame career, which included being named to the All-NBA first team as well as being named as the MVP of the NBA's first ever All-Star game. 

At 45 percent shooting, he also led the league in field goal percentage to go with the most points per game. This was his only double-double season as well.  

13. Nate Thurmond 64-65

16.5 PTS 18.1 REB

Thurmond made his first of seven All-Star games this season; he also set the record for most rebounds in one quarter, with 18 on Feb. 28, 1965. 

After making a huge jump from his rookie season, the Warriors knew they had something special on their hands.

12. Nate Thurmond 65-66

16.3 PTS 18.0 REB

Thurmond set his singe game career high of 42 rebounds in one game as he cemented himself as one of the best rebounders in the NBA.

11. Nate Thurmond 72-73

17.1 PTS 17.1 REB 45 FG%

What makes this season stand out is that he averaged the same exact amount of points and rebounds. Add in that he had his highest ever field goal percentage at 45, and that makes this one of his better seasons as a Warrior.

10. Nate Thurmond 66-67

18.7 PTS 21.3 REB  

He had 24 rebounds in one half, and this season marked the first time he averaged more than 20 rebounds in a single season, making him one of five players ever to do that.

This man was hard to rank, as all of his seasons seemed like they were all the same, which is not a bad thing, but is why they are all in a row. 

9. Rick Barry 73-74

25.1 PTS 6.8 REB 6.1 AST 

Despite Rick Barry putting up those gaudy numbers, the Warriors missed the playoffs.

That aside, putting up 25 points, almost seven rebounds and six assists a night is nothing short of a remarkable statistical season.  

8. Rick Barry 72-73

22.3 PTS 8.9 REB 4.9 AST 90 FT%

In Barry's return to the Warriors and the NBA, he guided them to the Western Conference finals, and it marked the first time he went over 90 percent from the free-throw line, leading the league for the first of seven times.

Why is no one else trying the underhand free throw? It works! 

7. Wilt Chamberlain 59-60

37.6 PTS 27.0 REB 46 FG%

In Chamberlain's rookie year, he scored 43 points and grabbed 28 rebounds in his first professional game, and statistically, he never looked back.

He won the NBA MVP that year to go along with the Rookie Year of the Year, a feat only duplicated once in the history of the NBA.  

6. Wilt Chamberlain 60-61

38.4 PTS 27.2 REB 51 FG%

In Chamberlain's second season, he averaged the highest rebounds per game average of his career and is still the only player to grab more than 2,000 rebounds in a single season. 

He also set the single game rebound mark, grabbing 55 in one game. Oh, and he had the highest field goal percentage this year to go with the most points.   

They say that Chamberlain got bored on the court, causing him to not try. I feel the same way just writing about him and all his stats. 

5. Rick Barry 66-67

35.6 PTS 9.2 REB 3.6 AST

In only his second season, Barry averaged 35 points a game, which surpassed his next highest average by five points a game. 

He also guided the Warriors to the NBA finals, which, the following season, led him to play for the Oakland Oaks in the ABA the next year. 

It's not just the last 20 years; the Warriors have never been able to hold onto any of their players.  

4. Wilt Chamberlain 63-64

36.9 PTS 22.3 REB 52 FG%

In Chamberlain's last full season as a Warrior, he actually didn't lead the NBA in rebounds, which I guess was enough to trade him for Paul Neumann, Connie Dierking and Lee Shaffer.

All three guys played for the Warriors for three and half seasons combined and put up about 20 games worth of Chamberlain's numbers in three-plus seasons. 

3. Wilt Chamberlain 62-63

44.8 PTS 24.3 REB 53 FG%

While Chamberlain put up mind-boggling numbers, it still wasn't enough to guide the Warrriors to the playoffs, which is even more mind boggling. 

This season even led to him being left off of the first team All-NBA for the only time that he completed any full season as a Warrior, which is a crime with those numbers. 

2. Rick Barry 74-75

30.6 PTS 5.7 REB 6.2 AST 2.9 STL 90 FT%

Not the best numbers he ever put up in any season as a Warrior, although quite impressive. What makes this season stand out is that he led the Golden State Warriors to their only championship since moving to California. 

That's enough for me to make this his best season as a Warrior. 

1. Wilt Chamberlain 61-62

50.4 PTS 25.6 REB 52 FG%

Titles aside, this is the greatest statistical season not by any Warrior, but by any player ever. 

Wilt had his famous 100-point game this season and was in the top three in everything besides assists. 

This season, he went over 4,000 points and is the only player ever to do so.

His season was so astonishing it led to the book, what else but Wilt. 

Despite all this, he didn't win the MVP that season. How is that possible?