“Lord Have Mercy”: Baron Davis Exposes Warriors’ “Funeral-Like” State Before Getting Rescued by Their Savior in 2006

Before Steve Kerr was able to build his dynasty and create a 65% win record, — which is the highest of the last five head coaches — the coach with the lowest win percentage at the Golden State Warriors was Mike Montgomery during the 04-06 season. The record of 34-48 in both 2004-05 and 2005-06, had the team finishing 12th and 13th in the Western Conference. The former Warriors star, Baron Davis reveals why the situation was so dire at the franchise.

Appearing on The Draymond Green Show, Baron Davis spoke about his time with the Warriors. During his spell with the Dubs, Baron Davis averaged 20.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 227 games. The same under coach Montgomery for two years brought his points to below 20 per game. So when Draymond Green asked him about the hiring of the new coach Don Nelson, Davis lived the relief he felt back then. “Thank God. Lord have mercy you know. Mike Montgomery the year before, he coached like we stupid. He talked like we stupid.”

When the current Warriors player probed further to understand the situation, Davis did not hold anything back. “You know a coach like just keeps coaching and telling you everything to do. And then when you like do something, he’s like, ‘no don’t do it’.” Further, he revealed an incident where during the team meeting he just couldn’t deal with the coach anymore.

Huddled up, while all remained silent, the coach often brought up what problems a player had with another. The names of the former, however, would remain anonymous. Thus, when Davis got around to confronting players and addressing the situation, he realized the problems were petty and just unnecessarily exaggerated which wasn’t really helping them. He says, “that’s why we suck. So I had to tell Montgomery, don’t talk to me for the rest of the year.” 

Montgomery was replaced by Don Nelson in 2006-07, who was the second-winningest coach in NBA history. Having amassed about 30 years in coaching when joining the Warriors, Nelson was sure to rectify the issues, both on and off the court. The very year, the team went on to beat the #1 seed in a best-of-seven playoff series and became the first team positioned #8 seed to do so.

Baron Davis felt not so Golden with the Warriors

Coach Mike Montgomery did not offer the best of memories for Bron Davis who had joined the Warriors in 2005. But he sure was full of spirit from day one, coming off a 5 consecutive playoff run with the Charlotte Hornets. This stance he backs as he narrates the occurrences of his first practice with the new team.

With 10 to 15 minutes left for the practice, everybody was not present on the court. According to Baron Davis, players were either in the gym, or training room. Thus he walked up to then Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and said, “God damn! what’s wrong with y’all it’s like a damn funeral.”

After the first disappointing season, Chris Mullin EVP wanted Montgomery out but was eventually overruled by the ownership. But when Don Nelson ultimately arrived for his second tenure with the Warriors, he helped the standing improve drastically.

Baron Davis even came to play a crucial role, averaging 20.1 points and 8.1 assists per game, and helping the team reach playoffs for the first time since 1994. A year later, Baron exited while Nelson laid the foundation for the mighty Warriors we know today. Afterall, it was he who pushed the management to draft Stephen Curry.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.