Golden State Warriors Explained: Traditions, Logo & History

Why are they called Golden State and not San Francisco?

The franchise began as the Philadelphia Warriors in 1946, moved west in 1962 as the San Francisco Warriors, and changed to Golden State in 1971 when it began splitting home games between San Francisco and Oakland.

The name was meant to represent the whole state rather than one city. The team then played in Oakland for nearly five decades before returning to San Francisco and Chase Center in 2019 — but the Golden State name stayed.

When did the Warriors move to Chase Center?

The Warriors opened Chase Center in San Francisco's Mission Bay for the 2019-20 season, ending 47 years at Oracle Arena in Oakland.

The move brought the team back across the bay to the city it had left in 1971, and it was privately financed rather than publicly funded. Oracle Arena had one of the loudest home-court reputations in the league, and the change of buildings was a real shift in atmosphere as well as address.

What Warriors records does Stephen Curry hold?

Nearly all of the important ones.

Curry is the franchise leader in points (26,528), assists (6,743), steals (1,602), three-pointers (4,248), games played and minutes, and he is the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made. He is also the only two-time MVP in franchise history and won the 2016 award unanimously — the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. Nate Thurmond's 12,771 rebounds is the notable franchise record Curry does not hold.

How big an upset was the 1975 championship?

Very.

The Warriors were heavy underdogs against a Washington Bullets team that had won 60 games, and they swept the series 4-0 behind Rick Barry, who averaged nearly 30 points a game in the Finals. Al Attles coached the team, making the series one of the first in major American pro sports with Black head coaches on both benches. It remains one of the most cited upsets in NBA history and was the franchise's only title between 1956 and 2015.

Did Wilt Chamberlain score 100 points as a Warrior?

Yes.

Chamberlain's 100-point game came on March 2, 1962, for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It is still the NBA single-game scoring record and is not close to being threatened. In his six seasons with the franchise he averaged 41.5 points and 25.1 rebounds per game — the highest scoring average in Warriors history by a margin of more than fifteen points. His No. 13 is retired.

Who are the Splash Brothers?

The nickname for the backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who between them reshaped how the NBA values the three-point shot.

They rank first and second in franchise history in three-pointers made — Curry with 4,248 and Thompson with 2,481 — and were the core of four championship teams alongside Draymond Green. The name dates to the early 2010s and stuck well enough to become shorthand for the era.

Golden State Warriors Records, Titles & Milestones

How many NBA championships have the Golden State Warriors won?

The Golden State Warriors have won 7 NBA championships (1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022).

Do the Golden State Warriors retire jersey numbers?

The Warriors retire numbers case by case for players who defined an era of the franchise. Andre Iguodala's No. 9 was the most recent addition, joining a list that spans the Philadelphia years through the modern dynasty.

Ring of Honor (7 members)

The Greatest Golden State Warriors Players of All Time

Who is the greatest Golden State Warriors player of all time?

By the measure of championships, individual honors, and lasting impact, Stephen Curry tops most all-time Golden State Warriors rankings. The full top 5 follows.

1. Stephen Curry PG \u00b7 2009-present

   The franchise's all-time leader in points, assists, steals and three-pointers, a two-time MVP including the league's first unanimous selection, and the driving force behind four championships. His range and off-ball movement changed how the sport is played at every level. He has spent his entire career with one team in an era when that has become rare.

2. Wilt Chamberlain C \u00b7 1959-1965

   Averaged 41.5 points and 25.1 rebounds per game as a Warrior, numbers that read like typos. He scored 100 points in a single game in 1962, won Rookie of the Year and MVP in his debut season, and held the franchise scoring record for half a century until Curry passed it. Six seasons with the franchise, in Philadelphia and then San Francisco.

3. Rick Barry F \u00b7 1965-1967, 1972-1978

   The best player on the only Warriors championship team between 1956 and 2015, and Finals MVP of that 1975 sweep. A relentless scorer at 25.6 points per game as a Warrior, and famous for shooting free throws underhanded — at a 90 percent clip, third-best in franchise history. His No. 24 is retired.

4. Nate Thurmond C \u00b7 1963-1974

   The franchise's all-time leading rebounder with 12,771, nearly 2,000 clear of Chamberlain, and its leader in defensive win shares. He averaged 16.9 rebounds per game over eleven seasons and was one of the great defensive centers of his era, playing in Chamberlain's shadow and then replacing him. His No. 42 is retired.

5. Chris Mullin F \u00b7 1985-1997, 2000-2001

   The constant through the franchise's lean years and the most recognizable member of the Run TMC teams with Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond. Mullin scored 16,235 points as a Warrior, made five straight All-Star teams, and won Olympic gold in 1984 and 1992. His No. 17 is retired and he later returned to the organization in a front-office role.