- Programming note: The American Century Championship will air Friday, July 11, from 1-3 p.m. PT on Peacock, and again from 5-7 p.m. PT on GOLF Channel. Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, the tournament will air locally on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.
The Warriors’ culture has proven to be a real thing, and it appears one of their newest additions will fit right in.
At least according to ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, who spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe and gave a promising scouting report on Golden State’s second-round draft pick Will Richard.
“He’s a guy that perfectly fits the Warriors’ culture,” Bilas told Poole. “One, he can shoot it. But he’s also a very good defender and a willing defender. He’s a team guy. He can operate without the ball. So he’s a really good catch-and-shoot guy. He can put it on the deck, but he’s an older, experienced player that I think fits the Warriors’ culture because it’s not all about him.
“He’s won a championship, he knows what that’s about. And I think he’s got a chance to be a solid NBA player.”
That certainly is reassuring for the Warriors, who traded up to select the former Florida guard No. 56 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Richard averaged 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game for the 2025 National Champions, playing a key role in the Gators’ success. The 22-year-old was exceptional in Florida’s National Championship win over Houston, logging a game-high 18 points while shooting 4 of 7 from 3-point range.
“We see him as a two-way player, shoot it and defend it,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said of Richard. “He’s a pretty good on-ball defender, very good off-ball defender, and he’s got good length. And he’s coming from a really good program and system where (he was) well-coached, well-taught through many years in college.
“This is a guy that knows how to play.”
And in his first game as a Warrior during the team’s California Classic finale, Richard showed exactly why Golden State coveted him.
Now, the Warriors — and Richard — hope it carries over into the 2025-26 season.
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