Warriors rookie Will Richard earns game ball after impressive NBA debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The keepsake from Warriors rookie Will Richard’s first NBA game wasn’t just any souvenir — it was a symbol of how quickly he has earned the respect of his new team.
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After Golden State’s 119–109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, coach Steve Kerr handed the rookie guard the game ball, marking the first points of his NBA career.
“We gave him the game ball afterward for his first hoop,” Kerr said. “I told the guys, usually, I know when it is somebody’s first hoop, and I make sure we get the ball from the officials right away. I completely forgot tonight. I told the guys the reason I forgot is that Will looks like he is in his seventh year. He doesn’t look like a rookie out there.”
Richard, selected 56th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies and later traded to the Warriorslooked comfortable in his first career appearance. The 22-year-old finished with five points, one assist and one rebound in limited minutes.
Kerr said Richard’s steady play and instinctive movement have been clear since the preseason.
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“I think it was after the first couple of exhibition games that he played in,” Kerr explained. “The first week of camp, we’re just installing stuff. We didn’t really get a great look. A couple of exhibition games, you just see him constantly making the right cut, being in the right place at the right time.”
The game ball might have been for Richard’s first basket — but if his debut was any indication, it won’t be his last milestone with the Warriors.
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