SAN FRANCISCO – The newest members of the Golden State Warriors flashed wide smiles and held up their crisp blue, gold and white jerseys at Chase Center a few hours before the start of free agency on Monday.
Alex Toohey lifted a No. 22 uniform, while Will Richard raised fabric adorned with No. 3. Both 2025 second-round picks, who will play for the Warriors at Summer League, sang the praises of the organization that has won four of the last 11 NBA Finals .
Those title-winning teams made an impression on the rookies.
Richard, the No. 56 selection out of Florida and a deadeye shooter who averaged 13.3 points per game, said he has been a fan of Steph Curry since childhood.
“Steph Curry, it’s crazy,” Richard said. “I’m definitely going to be watching him a lot, asking a lot of questions and try to learn as much as possible.”
While Richard cannot wait to pick Curry’s brain, Toohey has already had a chance to learn from a beloved member of the dynasty.
The Australian forward who averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in the National Basketball League has been in contact with onetime Golden State center Andrew Bogut, a fellow Australian who also counts the Sydney Kings as a former team.
Bogut told the 21-year-old that the kid from Canberra will feel right at home in the Warriors’ system, which Bogut described as “very Australian.”
“I think that a lot of the Australians like myself and Dyson (Daniels), it’s a very pass-first kind of play style, and sometimes that can go the other way and you have to be more aggressive,” Toohey said. “But I think looking for finding teammates more, and enjoying your teammates’ success, is a big part of Australian basketball.”
Toohey has already had a chance to hang out with teammates, sitting courtside with Valkyries superfan Brandin Podziemski and fellow Summer League teammate Coleman Hawkins during Sunday’s game against Seattle.
Compatriot Taran Armstrong is also on the team, and Armstrong told media that he has already texted with his soon-to-be Summer League teammate.
Richard was not courtside with that group, but he is plenty familiar with Chase Center. His Gators defeated Maryland and Texas Tech there in March to reach the Final Four, where they won the national title.
“It’s definitely great to be back,” the rookie said with a smile. “I mean, I was 2-0 when I came here, so I definitely have got a history of winning, and I’m excited to be back.”
Richard predicted that he, too, would “fit in perfectly” with the Warriors’ passing-oriented style, even if that emphasizes something he wishes to improve upon.
“What probably needs to improve is definitely playmaking, but I think that’ll come along as long as I keep growing through experience,” Richard said.
The rookies will play their first game at Chase Center on Saturday at 3:30 p.m against the Lakers’ Summer League team.