Brandon Rush: Happy to Be Back with the Warriors

The Golden State Warriors made it a point this offseason to add more backcourt depth, which was one of the their weakest areas this past season. One of the moves they made was signing former Warrior and fan favorite, Brandon Rush.

Rush played his first season with the Warriors during the 2011-2012 season, and he served as their sixth man. He filled this role incredibly well, as he provided three-point shooting, explosiveness, and defense in the second unit. He was a true spark off the bench.

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During that season, he averaged a career-high 9.8 points and 3.9 rebounds on 50.1 percent shooting from the field, 45.2 percent shooting from three, and 79.3 percent free-throw shooting.

Unfortunately for the Warriors and their fans, Rush suffered a torn ACL at the beginning of the 2012-2013 season, and then he was traded to the Utah Jazz in the Andre Iguodala trade prior to the 2013-2014 season.

Warriors fans are glad that he’s back with the Warriors this season. He’s the perfect addition to the Warriors bench, because he brings to the Warriors exactly what they need. They lacked consistent scoring and three-point shooting off the bench, especially from the wing positions, last season, and he will bring that and more.

Rush is also glad to be back with the Warriors, especially after a long recovery from his knee injury and after receiving inconsistent playing time with the Jazz. Rush explained this to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle:

"“It was difficult – playing, not playing, playing a little bit,” Rush said. “I wasn’t mentally ready, and it took a toll.“But I had a great summer, I worked out hard and I’m definitely ready.”"

Rush is 100 percent healthy, and he also told Simmons that he’s excited about the opportunity to contribute to a winning team:

"“This is a great situation for me to be able to come back and to be with a winning team,” said Rush, who signed a two-year deal worth more than $2.4 million to return to the Warriors this offseason. “I’m just going to try to help the team out with little things: rebounding, shooting and playing defense. I’m in a good mood. My head is in on straight. I’m happy with where I’m at.”"

Rush is expected to have a similar role this season as to the one he had in the 2011-2012 season. Rush told Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group that he has spoken to Warriors’ new head coach Steve Kerr and that he understands what his role will be this upcoming season:

"“He told me he wanted me to play that role where I could come in and be a spark and just help do anything I can do,” Rush said Monday at the Warriors’ Back to School event at Markham Elementary School."

Rush is not only excited to be that spark off the bench and to be back with his former team, but he’s excited to play with some former teammates and to play in front of Warriors fans again. He said that when he was given the opportunity to play for the Warriors again, he knew that it was the right decision to come back.

"“I’ve played with the guys before, so it was a no-brainer,” Rush said."

With the addition of Rush, point guard Shaun Livingston, guard Leandro Barbosa, and others, the Warriors are set to receive much more bench production this season than last season. Rush knows this team and knows how to contribute to this team, and Warriors fans will certainly be glad that he’s back, he’s 100 percent healthy, and he’s ready to be the Warriors’ sixth man again.

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