Corey Maggette is preparing for his ninth NBA season in California, but now finds himself with a new team 370 miles upstate. After spending eight years with the Los Angeles Clippers, Maggette was lured to the Golden State Warriors this offseason with a lucrative contract and the opportunity to play in Coach Don Nelson’s “Run and Gun” offense. Now, Maggette is excitedly adjusting to his new city, new coach, and new teammates. Yet one thing remains unchanged — Maggette’s tireless work ethic. The nine-year NBA veteran is sure to bring leadership to the locker room and add points to the scoreboard this season, while setting an exemplary example of commitment for his younger teammates. From the very day he arrived at Golden State, Maggette’s superior dedication has been on display.
After Baron Davis and his 21.8 points per game bolted for the Clippers in July, the Warriors were in need of an athletic scorer to fill the void. They quickly landed Maggette, along with his 22.1 PPG, with a five-year, $50 million deal and the incentive to unleash his athleticism with an offensively-minded organization. The Warriors averaged an NBA-best 111 points per game last season and the addition of Maggette’s proven scoring abilities should keep them near that mark. The new environment will allow the 6’6”, 225-lbs small forward to set career high numbers in numerous statistical categories. And, as evident from his first day with the Warriors, Maggette is going to work his hardest to exceed expectations.
After arriving from Los Angeles and undergoing an extensive NBA physical, Warriors General Manager Pete D’Alessandro gave Maggette a tour of Golden State’s facilities. Maggette was delighted with the player’s lounge and locker room, but became most excited as he entered the team’s weight room and practice gym. As D’Alessandro detailed the layout, Maggette picked up a ball and began to shoot in his street clothes. He continued shooting, gradually working up a sweat. Maggette later described the occurrence saying, “I’m sitting in the gym and I’m like, ‘Wow, this is nice, and I have all this stuff I can use.’ And then I’m like, ‘Hey, do you guys have some shorts?’” The NBA’s 11th-ranked scorer last season then whipped out his cell phone and called a nearby friend. Shortly after, he returned to the gym in mesh shorts, a white tee shirt, and his friend’s sneakers.
The newest Warrior then broke into a spontaneous workout as his older brother Jimmy and D’Alessandro observed. Maggette turned his informal tour of the Golden State facilities into an impressive full-fledged, 800-shot workout, much to the delight of his new GM. ”For a while, he was up over 80 percent,” D’Alessandro said. ”Jimmie and I were laughing because he was just lighting it up. He just kept going.” As they continued the tour, Maggette’s eyes widened when he saw the state-of-the-art weight room. Corey examined the fine equipment and began using various exercise machines. Always eager to get in a solid workout, the former Blue Devil decided to add another pause to the tour. He asked D’Alessandro and the accompanying Public Relations official, “You guys aren’t waiting for me, are you? Because I’m going to be here for a while.”
D’Alessandro and the Warriors staff gladly waited out the two-and-a-half hours of Maggette’s impromptu workout. The GM knew that he could count on Maggette to contribute points to the Warriors dynamic offense, but after that first night, he was confident that he could rely on Maggette for leadership with his younger teammates. ”With the group of guys we have, it’s a pretty dedicated and committed group already,” D’Alessandro said. ”To add a guy like Corey, with his incredible level of dedication, that can only be a good thing, especially for the younger guys coming in who maybe haven’t seen this.” With a contagious thirst for hard work and exceptional results, Maggette is sure to provide an additional spark within the Warriors’ locker room. This is particularly important for a team in which half of its current 18-man roster is comprised of rookies and second-year players, including the recently graduated Blue Devil DeMarcus Nelson.
From day one, Maggette has been a great fit in Golden State. Looking ahead, his on-court contributions will be critical to the young Warriors as he looks to flourish in Don Nelson’s offense. Given his nine years of experience and his enduring workmanlike approach, No. 50’s contributions off the court will pay great dividends as well. Excited about getting started with the Warriors, Maggette said, “Golden State has a lot of talent and a free-lance type of coach (Don Nelson). They won 50 games last year. I am lucky to sign with Golden State.” With a tireless worker, leader, and potent scorer like Maggette now on their side, the Golden State Warriors figure to be the lucky ones.
Corey Maggette by the Numbers
50 Jersey number retired this year by his alma mater, Fenwick High School
$50,000,000 Approximate value of Corey’s new five-year deal with the Golden State Warriors
9,481 Career points scored in his nine NBA seasons
10.6 Points per game during his freshman year at Duke
82 Career NBA FT percentage
2 NBA ranking last season in free throws per 48 minutes
39 Career-high points scored last year in a game against the Lakers
22.1 Points per game last year, tops on the Clippers and 11th-best in the NBA
