Steve Kerr And Jimmy Butler (Image Credits: X/Fullcourtpass)

Golden State might’ve found a gem late in the draft, and the veterans are already noticing. Rookie guard Will Richard, the 56th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has been immaculate inside Warriors camp ahead of the team’s season opener. With a 6-foot-10 wingspan, high motor, and sharp instincts, he’s earning early praise from some big names in the building.

During the Warriors’ practice, the mic caught Head Coach Steve Kerr and star forward Jimmy Butler hyping up the rookie’s game. Recently, Kerr also made major career decisions as his contract nears its end.

“That kid is pretty good … he always cuts,” Kerr said to Butler mid-practice.

“He knows how to play,” Butler added. “Nah, Will gon’ be good, though.”

Richard’s strong preseason showing already landed him a standard contract worth $8.68M, not the typical two-way deal offered to late picks. The non-guaranteed 2027-28 season with a club option for 2028-29 makes it a low-risk, high-upside move for the Warriors.

Steve Kerr Sees Brock Purdy-Level Poise in Rookie Will Richard’s Game

Steve Kerr and Will Richard (Photos by Imagn Images)
Kerr dropped a comparison that beautifully sums up what makes Warriors rookie Will Richard special, and it’s not about flash, but feel. The Golden State head coach likened Richard to San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy, pointing to their shared trait of being seasoned, high-IQ players who simply get it.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Kerr explained how Richard’s four-year college career at Florida shaped his NBA readiness, the same way Purdy’s time at Iowa State did.

“It’s the reads,” Kerr said, via X. “I really think that, you know, the last couple of years we’ve seen this with Quentin [Post] and with Will [Richard], you get these guys, who went t college for four years. They’ve just had so many reps, you know. It’s almost like Brock Purdy or something.”

Richard’s résumé backs it up, too. He played 141 games in college, starting 135, and averaged 11.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 46.3%. Kerr loves that he already understands Golden State’s chaos-driven offense.

And with the Warriors expected to manage minutes for their veteran core, Richard’s poise and polish could earn him a legit rotation role sooner than we expect.