The 1974–75 Golden State Warriors season was the 29th season in the franchise's history, its 13th in California and the fourth playing in Oakland. After four seasons of second-place division finishes, the Warriors made various changes. Nate Thurmond was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Clifford Ray, a young defensive center.Golden State Warriors (1962–Present) The club drafted Keith Wilkes (later known as Jamaal Wilkes), whose nickname was "Silk". Cazzie Russell had played out his option and joined the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving Rick Barry as the team's leader. Coach Al Attles implemented a team-oriented system that drew on the contributions of as many as ten players during a game. Barry scored 30.6 points per game, led the NBA in free throw percentage and steals per game, and was sixth in the league in assists per game. The Warriors captured the Pacific Division title with a 48–34 record. This was the Warriors’ third championship, and first since they were in Philadelphia in 1956.
In the playoffs, the Warriors got to the Western Conference Finals by beating the Seattle SuperSonics in six games. In the Western Finals, the Warriors looked like they were about to lose to former teammate Nate Thurmond. The Warriors found themselves down against the Chicago Bulls 3 games to 2. The Warriors rallied to win Game 6 in Chicago and took the series with an 83–79 Game 7 triumph in Oakland. In the NBA Finals, the Warriors faced off against the Washington Bullets. The Warriors took the series in four straight games, including 1-point wins in Games 2 and 4. Rick Barry was named the finals MVP.
The Warriors would not make another NBA Finals appearance again until 2015, where the team faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers and won its fourth league title. They would also go on to defeat the Cavaliers in 2017 and 2018, and would not win another championship after that until 2022, where they defeated the Boston Celtics.
Offseason
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 11 Keith Wilkes F UCLA 2 29 Phil Smith G San Francisco 3 47 Frank Kendrick F Purdue 4 65 Willie Biles G Tulsa 5 83 Steve Erickson Oregon 6 101 John Errecart G Pacific 7 119 Brady Allen California 8 137 Clarence Allen UC Santa Barbara 9 155 Carl Meier California 10 172 Marvin Buckley Nevada
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Season schedule
|- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 1 || October 18 || @ Los Angeles || 90–105 || Butch Beard (18) || Dickey, Ray (9) || Clifford Ray (7) || The Forum12,772 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || October 19 || Cleveland || 110–113 || Rick Barry (48) || Clifford Ray (13) || Butch Beard (10) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena4,402 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 3 || October 22 || Portland || 107–106 || Rick Barry (34) || Clifford Ray (16) || Rick Barry (6) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,717 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || October 25 || @ Portland || 99–97 || Rick Barry (34) || Rick Barry (13) || Charles Johnson (7) || Memorial Coliseum10,954 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || October 26 || Detroit || 104–105 || Rick Barry (34) || Clifford Ray (11) || Rick Barry (6) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,436 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || October 29 || Buffalo || 101–130 || Rick Barry (30) || George Johnson (15) || Rick Barry (11) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena4,221 || 4–2
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 7 || November 1 || @ Seattle || 99–88 || Rick Barry (45) || Clifford Ray (13) || Rick Barry (6) || Seattle Center Coliseum12,777 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || November 2 || Milwaukee || 90–99 || Rick Barry (22) || George Johnson (10) || Rick Barry (9) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena7,570 || 6–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || November 3 || @ Portland || 109–100 || Rick Barry (41) || George Johnson (14) || Rick Barry (10) || Memorial Coliseum10,494 || 7–2 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 10 || November 7 || Seattle || 104–93 || Jamaal Wilkes (27) || Jamaal Wilkes (15) || Rick Barry (11) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,391 || 7–3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || November 9 || New York || 93–97 || Rick Barry (32) || George Johnson (15) || Rick Barry (5) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena9,556 || 8–3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || November 10 || @ Los Angeles || 106–103 || Rick Barry (23) || Clifford Ray (11) || Rick Barry (7) || The Forum11,328 || 9–3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || November 12 || Atlanta || 111–128 || Rick Barry (33) || George Johnson (10) || Rick Barry (5) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena4,970 || 10–3 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 14 || November 16 || Philadelphia || 106–102 || Rick Barry (31) || Clifford Ray (17) || Rick Barry (7) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena8,345 || 10–4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || November 17 || @ Phoenix || 106–105 || Rick Barry (36) || Dickey, Ray (10) || Charles Johnson (9) || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,471 || 11–4 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 16 || November 19 || @ Buffalo || 106–111 || Rick Barry (31) || Charles Johnson (11) || Butch Beard (9) || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium8,529 || 11–5 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || November 20 || @ Boston || 120–115 || Rick Barry (42) || Clifford Ray (14) || Rick Barry (5) || Providence Civic Center3,509 || 12–5 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 18 || November 21 || @ Cleveland || 74–106 || Rick Barry (23) || Jamaal Wilkes (15) || Rick Barry (4) || Richfield Coliseum5,811 || 12–6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || November 23 || @ Detroit || 110–98 || Rick Barry (45) || Clifford Ray (9) || Butch Beard (7) || Cobo Arena6,902 || 13–6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || November 26 || Houston || 124–144 || Rick Barry (37) || George Johnson (12) || Rick Barry (8) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena6,015 || 14–6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 21 || November 30 || Los Angeles || 118–128 || Rick Barry (43) || George Johnson (14) || Rick Barry (7) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena2,576 || 15–6
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || December 3 || New Orleans || 101–122 || Rick Barry (32) || George Johnson (14) || Butch Beard (7) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,081 || 16–6 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 23 || December 5 || @ Phoenix || 106–108 (2OT) || Rick Barry (30) || Clifford Ray (13) || Beard, Ray (9) || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,053 || 16–7 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || December 7 || Seattle || 96–132 || Rick Barry (26) || George Johnson (15) || Rick Barry (10) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena12,608 || 17–7 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 25 || December 10 || @ Houston || 97–111 || Rick Barry (29) || Clifford Ray (9) || Rick Barry (10) || Hofheinz Pavilion2,146 || 17–8 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 26 || December 11 || @ New Orleans || 103–106 || Rick Barry (38) || George Johnson (10) || Rick Barry (8) || Municipal Auditorium3,731 || 17–9 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || December 12 || @ Atlanta || 129–109 || Rick Barry (41) || Ray, Wilkes (9) || Rick Barry (10) || Omni Coliseum3,745 || 18–9 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 28 || December 14 || @ Washington || 91–99 || Rick Barry (29) || George Johnson (17) || Barry, Beard (4) || Capital Centre10,396 || 18–10 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 29 || December 17 || @ New York || 126–108 || Rick Barry (44) || Clifford Ray (11) || Butch Beard (10) || Madison Square Garden19,694 || 19–10 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || December 20 || @ Philadelphia || 94–93 || Rick Barry (29) || Jamaal Wilkes (16) || Rick Barry (7) || The Spectrum6,292 || 20–10 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 31 || December 21 || @ Kansas City–Omaha || 84–107 || Rick Barry (30) || Clifford Ray (9) || Jamaal Wilkes (5) || Kemper Arena5,668 || 20–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || December 23 || Phoenix || 94–111 || Rick Barry (43) || Clifford Ray (18) || Rick Barry (7) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,240 || 21–11 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || December 26 || Portland || 101–112 || Rick Barry (46) || Dickey, Wilkes (10) || Rick Barry (10) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena10,983 || 22–11 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 34 || December 28 || Boston || 115–105 || Rick Barry (37) || Clifford Ray (13) || Rick Barry (9) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena12,787 || 22–12 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || December 30 || Kansas City–Omaha || 102–110 || Rick Barry (39) || Clifford Ray (15) || Rick Barry (9) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena7,374 || 23–12
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 36 || January 4 || Washington || 96–104 || Mullins, Wilkes (19) || George Johnson (12) || Butch Beard (7) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena12,787 || 24–12 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 37 || January 7 || New Orleans || 94–136 || Rick Barry (29) || Jamaal Wilkes (12) || Rick Barry (9) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena4,164 || 25–12 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || January 9 || New York || 96–132 || Rick Barry (33) || Derrek Dickey (13) || Derrek Dickey (6) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena12,392 || 26–12 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || January 10 || @ Seattle || 119–94 || Rick Barry (26) || Dickey, Ray (13) || Jeff Mullins (7) || Seattle Center Coliseum14,055 || 27–12 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 40 || January 11 || Chicago || 114–105 || Rick Barry (40) || Clifford Ray (13) || Rick Barry (5) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena12,787 || 27–13 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 41 || January 16 || @ Milwaukee || 100–119 || Rick Barry (26) || Clifford Ray (13) || Rick Barry (6) || MECCA Arena10,089 || 27–14 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 42 || January 17 || @ Buffalo || 116–121 || Rick Barry (35) || Jamaal Wilkes (9) || Rick Barry (7) || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium13,727 || 27–15 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 43 || January 18 || @ Washington || 101–125 || Charles Johnson (21) || George Johnson (11) || Rick Barry (7) || Capital Centre19,035 || 27–16 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || January 21 || Los Angeles || 108–138 || Rick Barry (38) || Clifford Ray (17) || Jeff Mullins (6) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena7,847 || 28–16 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || January 23 || Philadelphia || 100–108 || Rick Barry (55) || George Johnson (17) || Butch Beard (6) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena7,070 || 29–16 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 46 || January 25 || Portland || 109–114 (OT) || Rick Barry (32) || G. Johnson, Ray (11) || Dickey, Smith (5) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena12,732 || 30–16 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 47 || January 26 || @ Portland || 113–128 || Rick Barry (36) || Clifford Ray (15) || Butch Beard (6) || Memorial Coliseum10,231 || 30–17 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 48 || January 29 || @ Detroit || 90–93 || Rick Barry (25) || Clifford Ray (12) || Rick Barry (8) || Cobo Arena9,538 || 30–18 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 49 || January 31 || @ Chicago || 103–127 || Rick Barry (40) || Jamaal Wilkes (13) || Beard, Dudley (5) || Chicago Stadium13,208 || 30–19
|- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 50 || February 2 || @ Kansas City–Omaha || 101–127 || Rick Barry (34) || Derrek Dickey (12) || Butch Beard (4) || Kemper Arena9,365 || 30–20 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 51 || February 4 || @ Houston || 107–105 || Rick Barry (38) || Clifford Ray (9) || Barry, Beard, Mullins (5) || Hofheinz Pavilion3,173 || 31–20 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 52 || February 6 || Washington || 98–97 || Rick Barry (34) || Clifford Ray (19) || Rick Barry (8) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena12,787 || 31–21 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 53 || February 8 || Phoenix || 96–105 || Phil Smith (22) || Clifford Ray (14) || Rick Barry (11) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena8,961 || 32–21 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 54 || February 11 || Houston || 112–108 (OT) || Rick Barry (30) || Ray, Wilkes (14) || Rick Barry (7) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,775 || 32–22 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 55 || February 13 || @ Cleveland || 93–96 || Barry, Wilkes (20) || Clifford Ray (11) || Clifford Ray (5) || Richfield Coliseum9,062 || 32–23 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 56 || February 14 || @ Chicago || 87–105 || Rick Barry (23) || Clifford Ray (16) || Rick Barry (4) || Chicago Stadium10,126 || 32–24 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 57 || February 15 || @ Philadelphia || 108–101 || Rick Barry (37) || Clifford Ray (18) || Charles Dudley (11) || The Spectrum5,695 || 33–24 |- bgcolor="ffcccc"