After leaving Florida, Will Richard secured a place in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. Although he was a second-round pick, he quickly earned steady playing time under coach Steve Kerr and emerged as one of the top surprises of the 2025 NBA Draft.
This week, Richard shared in an interview with San Francisco's 95.7 The Game how he is settling into the team and revealed the nickname his teammates have given him:
“They call Al [Horford] 'Big Gator,' so I'm 'Baby Gator' right now. It's either 'Rook' or 'Baby Gator.'”
Richard now shares the court with former Florida star Al Horford, who joined Golden State after playing for Boston. Horford is in his 19th NBA season, while Richard is just starting his career. Interestingly, when Horford and the Gators won their first national championship in 2006, Richard was only three years old.
Richard also expressed his admiration for playing alongside established stars such as Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler:
“I grew up watching these guys. To be able to witness their greatness every game, every practice, it's a blessing to be a part of. I take a step back every day and realize how thankful I am to be in this situation.”
In his first six NBA games, Richard is averaging 5.7 points per game with about 13 minutes of playing time.
Summary: Will Richard has quickly adapted to the Warriors, earning a nickname that links him with veteran Al Horford, while appreciating the chance to play alongside NBA legends early in his promising career.