The Golden State Warriors have long relied on the NBA draft to build their championship-caliber rosters. From superstars to role players, the team has scoured colleges of all sizes to find talent that fits their system. Today, we're taking a closer look at the unique connection between the Warriors and Cornell University—exploring every player the franchise has drafted from the Ivy League school.

The draft has been the lifeblood of the Warriors' success, bringing in elite talent through both direct selections and draft-night trades. While the team is famous for landing stars from powerhouse programs, they've also taken chances on players from smaller schools, including Cornell.

The Cornell Connection

In the 1951 NBA Draft, the Warriors selected a player from Cornell in the 10th round. With the third pick of that round (85th overall), the team chose an Ivy Leaguer who, unfortunately, never suited up for Golden State. Despite the pick, this player did not make the final roster and never played a regular-season game for the franchise.

While the Warriors' history with Cornell draftees is brief, it reflects the team's willingness to look beyond the typical basketball powerhouses. In the modern era, the Warriors have built their dynasty through savvy drafting from a variety of collegiate backgrounds, but this early draft pick serves as a footnote in the team's long and storied history of talent evaluation.

For fans of both the Warriors and Cornell, this connection—though short-lived—remains a small but interesting part of the franchise's draft legacy.