It’s not very often when a six-foot-ten 20 year old with unlimited basketball potential goes unnoticed, but because of the market he plays in, Golden State Warriors forward Anthony Randolph is an unknown talent. However, I will admit that even though I consider myself to be a very serious NBA fan, I had not heard too much about this kid until I watched his games towards the end of last season. And let me say this: To the 95% of NBA fans that have no idea where Golden State is or don’t know how they can watch any of the Warrior’s games on TV, you are missing out.
Spending just one season at Louisiana State University, and posting numbers of 15.6ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1spg, 2.3bpg in 32.8 minutes per game, the Golden State Warriors selected Randolph with the 14th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. As a rookie, Randolph played four games in the 2008 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, scoring nearly 21 points a game while pulling down about eight boards per contest.
As a rookie, Randolph played in 63 games, and started 22 times. His overall averages of 7.9ppg and 5.8rpg along with his 46.2 field goal percentage aren’t that impressive, but when he was give more time, Randolph made the skills he had very apparent. When Anthony was given the starting power forward job for the Golden State Warriors, he averaged 15 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1 block, 1.5 steals and an sported a very impressive assist-TO rate that sat above 1. If Randolph was able to put these numbers while adjusting to a new role in just eight games, we can only wonder what he will be able to do with 82 games for him to play in.
Playing in the 2009 NBA Summer League seemed to be a bad idea for Randolph, because despite his youth, a poor performance could have cost him a shot at starting in the beginning of the season. But somehow, Randolph only improved his reputation. In four games, Anthony averaged 26.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2.2 steals, while tieing the Summer League scoring record with a 42 point performance against the Chicago Bulls Summer League club (The record would later be broken by fellow Warrior, Anthony Morrow). Randolph definitely earned the Summer League’s Most Outstanding Player Award, but instead, hype machine Blake Griffin took it home, despite having inferior numbers.
His showing at the Summer League would earn him a chance to participate in the Team USA Basketball Showcase that would be happening in Vegas a few days after the NBA Summer League ended. The Showcase featured 20 of the nations top young pros, like Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay and Andre Iguodala. The purpose of the Showcase was to find players to replace the elders from the 2008 Beijing squad (Guys like Jason Kidd, who told SI’s Chris Mannix that he will not be back for 2012), and to fill in for the bigger names that opt to only play in the 2012 Olympics, thus skipping the 2010 FIBA World Championships.
“It’s a great thing to even be considered to try out for the team,” Randolph told me in a face-to-face interview. “But to make it is a whole other league in it’s own. I’d be extremely honored, I can’t even use words to describe how honored I’d be (if I made the team).”
Other post players like Brook Lopez (Nets), Kevin Love (Timberwolves), Paul Millsap (Jazz), JaVale McGee (Wizards), and Greg Oden (Blazers) were invited and attended the camp. Randolph used the opportunity to play against them to become a better player.
“Of course (playing against these guys helps my game). I talked to my GMs and Coaches and stuff, and I told them (that) if anything, I’ll come out of here a better player. Just due to the fact that there are so many good players out here, and I can learn so much from them.”
So what’s next for a 20-year old that can already score, rebound, and block shots?
Improving his leadership.
“I’m going to try to step up and become more of a leader, and try to build on that every year. So eventually, as the years go on, I can be a leader of the Golden State Warriors.”
Speaking of the Warriors, Randolph thinks that adding Stephen Curry via draft helps the Warriors post players out.
“He’s a great addition to the team. That’s another added shooter on the team. A guy that can space the floor and make it a lot easier for me, Ronny Turiaf, and Andris Biedrins.”
Not much is expected out of the Warriors this season in terms of making it to the playoffs. However, noone was expecting the Warriors to take out the best team in the NBA, the Dallas Mavericks, in the 2007 playoffs, so anything is possible. Especially with a guy like Randolph working in the paint.
