Thinking about who the Golden State Warriors were just five years ago and who they are now is a fascinating exercise. What was considered a competitive, subpar team with a dangerous array of talent and a beloved head coach (Don Nelson) has evolved into one of the most prolific teams in NBA history.
Consider the 2008-09 Warriors, a team that went 29-53 in the regular season and didn’t make the playoffs the season before drafting Stephen Curry. They were a team ridden with an odd and capable diversity of true talent — Jamal Crawford, Stephen Jackson (the team’s leading scorer at 20.7 PPG), Corey Maggette, Al Harrington, and Monta Ellis, but the player from that team who I’d like to reminisce on is Kelenna Azubuike.
Sidebar: Stephen Jackson said last month on Rachel Nichols’ The Jump on ESPN that “his” Warriors could beat today’s Warriors.
Stephen Jackson (@DaTrillStak5) says his #Warriors team would beat today's Dubs.@ZachLowe_NBA can't believe it pic.twitter.com/AQvdxpBJNj
— NBA On Def Pen (@NBAOnDefPen) February 25, 2016
Azubuike, while not one of the flashiest or most talked about players, was one of eight double-digit scorers on that Warriors team, averaging 14.4 points per game that season. It was Azubuike’s best season as a pro, with a career-high in starts (51) and minutes played per game (32.1).
I can’t help but theorize that Azubuike would be a natural fit with today’s Warriors. Azubuike became a do-it-all asset in his own right, the type of consummate skill set that permeates throughout the Warriors of today. A stellar athlete, Azubuike was a raw, forceful finisher at the rim, but could also space the floor. As a 44 percent three-point shooter in the 2008-09 season, he wasn’t a sniper, but had no issues knocking down shots. He could put it on the floor to make plays, be a threat in transition, and operate in the passing game.
Interestingly enough, for sake of role comparison, Azubuike would equate to what Harrison Barnes is for the Warriors — a fill-in-the-gap, scoring-capable, sturdy forward that adds a versatile presence on both ends of the floor.
If you were like me, and more specifically around my age about seven years ago, Kelenna Azubuike wasn’t a focal attraction. I couldn’t really figure out his game and the pronunciation of his name probably made him even less attractive. It’s important to look back at players like Azubuike, not just because of his relevancy when it comes to today’s Warriors, but because of his nature as an overlooked gem, which the Warriors of today have made a staple out of (Draymond Green as the prime example). Azubuike made his way up from the D-League after going undrafted, and frankly, everyone should want a Kelenna Azubuike on their team.
