Dave Lattin and the No. 47: The Forgotten Pioneer of Golden State Warriors Jersey History

In the vast tapestry of the Golden State Warriors franchise, a lineage stretching from Philadelphia to the Bay Area, over 600 players have woven their stories into the fabric of more than 60 jersey numbers. Each digit carries a legacy, from the retired icons to the fleeting contributors. As we embark on a journey through this numerical history, we begin not with a superstar, but with a foundational piece—a single-season Warrior whose name is etched into the team’s origin story on the West Coast. This is the tale of the first man to ever wear No. 47 for the Warriors: Dave “Big Daddy D” Lattin, a draft pick who arrived at the precise moment an expansion-era franchise was learning how to build.

The Draft Pick and the Dawning of a New Warriors Era

To understand Dave Lattin’s place in Warriors jersey history, one must first grasp the era. The 1967-68 season was a watershed moment for the franchise and the league. The team, then known as the San Francisco Warriors, was just a few years removed from its Philadelphia roots and navigating its identity in California. The NBA itself was on the cusp of explosive growth, with expansion plans set to add the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks the following year.

Into this shifting landscape stepped Dave Lattin. A towering, physically imposing forward from the University of Texas at El Paso, Lattin was no unknown prospect. He was the cornerstone of UTEP’s (then Texas Western) legendary 1966 NCAA Championship team that made history by starting five Black players and defeating an all-white Kentucky squad—a cultural milestone depicted in the film *Glory Road*. Lattin’s thunderous dunk over Kentucky’s Pat Riley remains an iconic moment in college basketball lore. His reputation as a fierce competitor and elite athlete made him a coveted prospect.

The San Francisco Warriors, holding the 11th overall pick in the 1967 NBA Draft, saw in Lattin the kind of tough, championship-tested interior presence they needed. His selection was a statement of intent, a move to inject winning pedigree and physicality into a roster that featured the spectacular scoring of Rick Barry but sought greater balance.

Lattin’s Lone Season in San Francisco: By the Numbers

Dave Lattin’s tenure with the Warriors was brief—just 78 games in the 1967-68 season. His statistical contributions, while modest, reveal a player adapting to the professional game and filling a specific role on a team in transition.

• Season Averages: 4.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.
• Role and Context: Playing behind established frontcourt players like Nate Thurmond and Clyde Lee, Lattin provided minutes off the bench, offering rebounding and defensive energy. His 10.4 minutes per game average indicates a reserve role on a team that finished 43-39.
• Notable Performance: On March 16, 1968, in a game against the Detroit Pistons, Lattin showcased his potential with a season-high 17 points and 11 rebounds, logging a significant 31 minutes. It was a glimpse of the college star he had been.

While his Golden State Warriors career didn’t set statistical records, his impact must be viewed through a broader lens. He was part of the foundational roster that would, just a few years later and after relocation to become the Golden State Warriors, culminate in the 1975 NBA Championship. Players like Lattin were the early building blocks, the trial runs, and the depth pieces that defined an organization’s growth during the league’s expansion.

The Expansion Draft and a Legacy of “What If?”

The end of Lattin’s time in San Francisco was dictated by league-wide change. The 1968 NBA expansion draft, designed to stock the new Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks franchises, forced existing teams to expose a portion of their roster. The San Francisco Warriors, opting to protect other assets, left Dave Lattin available.

The Phoenix Suns, building from scratch, selected the young forward. This move abruptly ended Lattin’s chapter with the Warriors after just one season, making his No. 47 jersey a one-and-done in team history until it was briefly revived decades later. This twist of fate fuels the classic sports question of “what if?” What if the Warriors had protected him? Could his physical style and championship experience have developed into a more significant force alongside Thurmond and a returning Rick Barry (who jumped to the ABA for several seasons)?

His departure, however, is a critical part of Warriors history. It exemplifies the constant roster churn and difficult decisions franchises face, especially in an expanding league. Lattin’s story is a snapshot of the transactional reality of professional sports, where long-term plans often collide with immediate league mandates.

No. 47: A Number of Singular Stories in Warriors Lore

Dave Lattin’s legacy as the first Warrior to wear jersey number 47 is unique. The number itself is one of the least worn in franchise annals, a true rarity. For over three decades after Lattin, no Warrior player chose it, making his ownership of it in the late 1960s even more distinct.

It wasn’t until the 2001-02 season that another player, center Dean Garrett, would briefly wear No. 47 for Golden State. This gap underscores how Lattin’s season-long use of the number is its most historically significant chapter. In the meticulous record-keeping of sports, Lattin is forever the pioneer for that jersey in the Bay Area.

For collectors and historians of NBA jersey history, a Dave Lattin San Francisco Warriors jersey represents a specific and fascinating moment: the intersection of a college legend, a franchise’s California adolescence, and the dawn of the modern NBA’s expansion era. It is a garment of transition.

Conclusion: Honoring the Foundations of a Dynasty

The history of a franchise like the Golden State Warriors is not written solely by its MVPs and championship parades. It is written in the full sequence of names and numbers that have passed through the locker room, each contributing a thread to the larger story. Dave Lattin’s thread, though short, is woven from significant cloth—a college champion drafted to bring toughness to the West Coast, only to be swept up in the tides of league expansion.

His No. 47 Warriors jersey is a relic of a specific time and place: San Francisco in 1967, a team finding its way, and a league on the verge of monumental growth. As we chronicle the complete numerical history of this storied franchise, we begin by paying respect to these initial contributors. Dave “Big Daddy D” Lattin may have only played one season for the Warriors, but as the first to wear his number, he secured a permanent, if quiet, place in the team’s vast and storied history. His journey reminds us that every dynasty has its pioneers, and every jersey number, no matter how rarely worn, has a story worth telling.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.