A rivalry that’s never been
Mature rookie: Drafted 41st, Paschall in line for big minutes
Warriors forward Eric Paschall turns 23 next month, but he still doesn’t have his driver’s license.
Growing up just outside New York City, Paschall mastered public transportation at a young age, memorizing bus routes and subway schedules to get where he needed. Now an NBA rookie, he either asks a teammate or coach for a ride, calls one of Golden State’s car services or orders an Uber whenever he must leave his San Francisco apartment.
“Whenever we have an extended break, I’m going to get my license,” Paschall said. “But right now, obviously, it’s tough. Got a lot on my plate.”
In a draft era that often values potential over experience, the Warriors took Paschall — fresh off a fouryear college career that included a national championship with Villanova — for his maturity. At 6foot9, 255 pounds with a 7foot wingspan, Paschall boasts the physicality, versatility and basketball IQ to bolster a thin frontcourt.
Through three preseason games, he has averaged 9.3 points, three rebounds and 1.3 assists in 23.3 minutes as Draymond Green’s primary backup at power forward. His sound decisionmaking and ability to defend multiple positions has some in the organization believing he could be a rotational staple for years to come.
“To me, he fits right in and maybe even stands out on an NBA floor athletically, from a strength and explosion standpoint,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s a mature rookie. He played for four years in college, and it showed. He knows what he’s doing.”
Outside of Paschall, Golden State’s backup power forwards are Omari Spellman and the injured Alen Smailagic. Spellman, whose weight issues prompted Atlanta to trade him after just one year, has largely been a nonfactor in preseason. Smailagic is a longterm project who will probably spend most of the season in the G League once he returns from a rolled ankle.
This leaves Paschall in an unusual position for a No. 41 pick: To contend for a title, or even make the playoffs, the Warriors might need him to provide reliable minutes. Only three of the 15 players drafted 41st before Paschall — Jodie Meeks (2009), Nikola Jokic (2014) and Pat Connaughton (2015) — have had meaningful roles in the league.
For every Jokic or Cuttino Mobley (1998), there are numerous players taken at that spot who don’t even sign an NBA contract. Before he finished his first summer league, Paschall had inked a guaranteed threeyear, $4.2 million deal with the Warriors, a testament to the franchise’s faith in him.
When Golden State went on the clock for the No. 28 pick in June’s draft, it strongly considered selecting Paschall, only to prioritize wing depth and pick Michigan guard Jordan Poole. Before taking Smailagic at No. 39, Warriors general manager Bob Myers checked with league sources to make sure the Kings wouldn’t nab Paschall at No. 40.
“We were kind of holding our breath hoping for him to fall,” Kerr said. “Luckily, it happened.”
In two predraft workouts with Golden State, Paschall impressed the front office with his high motor, floorspacing and screensetting. Though he didn’t have the upside of some younger prospects, Paschall convinced the Warriors that he was NBAready, quite the boon for a team with eight newcomers.
Lightly touted out of prep school, Paschall earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors with Fordham in 2015 before transferring to Villanova, where he shed 17 pounds and trimmed his body fat percentage from 18 to 6 while sitting out a year under NCAA transfer rules. After playing a key role for the national champions as a junior, he emerged as the Wildcats’ unquestioned leader last season.
This pedigree was a big reason the Warriors eyed Paschall, but it might have also contributed to his draftnight plummet. In the early stages of the draft, teams tend to select based on what a player could be, not what he is today. Green — the No. 35 pick in 2012 — knows well that prospects who spend four years in college are often viewed as having a lower ceiling than those who come out after a season or two.
Of the 40 players taken before Paschall, only five stayed in college for four years. Seven of the 19 selected after him had such a distinction.
“It’s always nice to have a guy who has confidence in himself and his abilities and has shown bright spots this early,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “He comes from a winning program and has had many great experiences in college. He can bring that to what we do here.”
Paschall moved into his apartment complex, which is a short walk from Chase Center and also houses four of his teammates, on his own. Warriors coaches have enjoyed talking to him about matters bigger than basketball: politics, philosophy, social issues. At times, they forget Paschall is just a rookie.
That is, until he asks for a ride.
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Con_Chron