LOS ANGELES – In the 12 years Steve Kerr has coached the Warriors, he always has been aware when one of his rookies makes his first basket in an NBA game. Right away, he makes sure to get the ball from the officials for a special keepsake.
Admittedly, Kerr forgot to do his usual ask for Crypto.com Arena to open the 2025-26 season. But for good reason.
“I told the guys, the reason I forgot is because Will looks like he’s in his seventh year. He doesn’t look like a rookie out there,” Kerr said.
The Warriors eventually tracked the ball down and got it in Richard’s possession forever.
Kerr giving a rookie, a second-round draft pick taken No. 56 overall nonetheless, first-quarter minutes in the first game of the season isn’t normal. The trust Richard earned from his coach didn’t take long. After the first few preseason games, Kerr knew the Warriors had something special on their hands in a player he didn’t need to fret over making costly mistakes. How he scored his first points against the Lakers was a prime example.
Recognizing Luka Dončić, grabbed the airball and instantly drained a turnaround jump shot from five feet out.
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Those instincts as a four-year college player who won the national championship earlier this year with Florida will get him real minutes as a rookie. As will his already impressive lockdown defense. Richard has a knack to swipe down for steals like Gary Payton II for an alley-oop.
“I saw the mismatch,” Richard told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’re taught at Florida if you see that, get over and get tight. I saw the ball and felt like I could make a play. Just trying to be aggressive and make a play to help my team.”
Richard started two of the Warriors’ five preseason games and played with the poise of someone who is far from new to this, frustrating offenses with seven steals. Even at the podium, his answers don’t resemble a rookie.
Even he could acknowledge the first regular-season game felt much different, though.
“Oh yeah, it was definitely a different intensity,” Richard said.
Later in the game, Kerr didn’t hesitate to play Richard in the fourth quarter. His decision paid off again. With five and a half minutes left, Steph Curry drove to the hoop, forcing multiple defenders to collapse on him. Richard took advantage, relocating and catching Curry’s hook pass in the left corner. Richard, in an instant, made his first NBA three and extended the Warriors’ lead to 15 points.
He knew it was falling through right when the shot left his right hand.
“Felt good. It felt good in shootaround today, so I feel good today for sure,” Richard said.
The rookie played 14 minutes in his debut, the third-most of any Warriors bench player. Richard scored five points while making both of his shot attempts, and also had one rebound, one assist and two steals.
His game ball will go in a case back at home, and the memory of the entire day will last forever.
“It was special,” Richard said. “First NBA bucket, debut and we ended with a win. For me, it’s a perfect day."