WARRIORSTALK

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Golden State’s Strong Case to Have Three All-Stars

It has happened numerous times throughout the deep history of the franchise. Three Warriors playing in one of the most exciting basketball games of the year. The NBA All-Star Game.

1950-1951,1951-1952: Andy Phillip, Joe Fulks, Paul Arizin

1955-1956, 1956-1967: Neil Johnston, Jack George, Paul Arizin

1959-1960, 1960-1961, 1961-1962: Tom Gala, Wilt Chamberlain, Paul Arizin

1962-1963: Guy Rodgers, Tom Meschery, Wilt Chamberlain

1965-1966: Guy Rodgers, Nate Thurmond, Rick Barry

1967-1968: Clyde Lee, Nate Thurmond, Rudy LaRusso

1975-1976: Jamaal Wilkes, Phil Smith, Rick Barry

2015-2016: Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green

2018-2019: Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant

The 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 teams even had FOUR selections in Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant!

And now, in the 2021-2022 season, three Warriors should be taking their talents to the NBA All-Star Game once again.

Steph Curry will be a starter for the Western Conference squad for the 8th time in his illustrious career. That is, obviously, without question. He’s 1st in three-pointers made per game at 5.0 3PM, 6th in the entire league in scoring at 26.8 PPG, 17th in player efficiency rating with a 22.20 PER, and 20th in assists with 6.1 APG. And you can never forget about him getting his hands in the passing lane as Curry is 17th in steals with 1.4 SPG.

The former #1 NBA Draft pick, Andrew Wiggins, has caught the league’s attention through his play both on the offensive and defensive side of the floor. From deep, he’s shooting 42.1 3P% which ranks as the 15th best percentage in the league (even currently better than Steph Curry’s 38.4 3P%). While Klay was out, Wiggins took over the duty of guarding the opposing team’s top-scoring threat. He’s lived up to the challenge, ready for anything that is thrown at him on any given night.

Draymond Green has been the leader for the team with the best defensive rating (102.1) in all of the NBA and has proven to be the 19th best rim protector at 1.2 BPG. Along with that, he’s been one of the top facilitators as Green is 8th in assists with 7.4 APG and holds the league’s top assist ratio at 42.4.

All three of these Warriors are in the top rankings for the NBA’s best individual defensive rating. Draymond Green is 1st (98.7), Steph Curry is 6th (103.2), and Andrew Wiggins is 11th (105.2). No opposing team has wanted to go up against these guys on that side of the floor all season long.

The Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on February 20th will have Dubs all over the place. Should be a special night for this franchise.

Follow Arden Cravalho on Twitter @a_cravalho.

(Photo credit: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)