Alex Toohey to Golden State Warriors: What Aussie star will bring to NBA

It doesn’t get much better than this. It’s NBA draft night and the general manager of Golden State is on the phone. This is what happened when Alex Toohey learned he was off to San Francisco.

It’s been a stressful week in the US for the Toohey family in the build up to the NBA draft but there’s a pride, relief and even sharper focus as Australia’s newest Golden State Warrior takes another big step in his basketball journey.

Sydney Kings Next Stars alum Alex Toohey, the 21-year-old son of retired high-ranking Australian Defence Force personnel Michael and Kathryn, became the toast of the ACT when his name was called with the 52nd pick in the draft, a selection that was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Warriors.

Proud dad Mick said the build-up to the draft was an eye-opening experience as Alex was put through his paces at workouts and the draft combine, while the family learned about what NBA teams wanted.

And they couldn’t be happier with the situation he’s landed in.

The moment Alex Toohey & Will Richard became members of #DubNationpic.twitter.com/U1GJu9jHyk

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 28, 2025

I’ve arrived DubNation!! 💛💙

— alex toohey (@alextoohey22) June 27, 2025

“Alex and his agent Daniel Moldovan were focused on him going to a great team environment with a history of developing players,” Mick said.

“He has really enjoyed the last four weeks of experiences from the NBA combine to the workouts with 17 teams, in doing so, demonstrating he’s a professional: mature, reliable, and resilient.

“He is striving to build a long-term NBA career, so he is very excited to be going to Golden State Warriors, which also has history with his Sydney Kings mentors.”

Kings part-owner Andrew Bogut won an NBA title alongside Steph Curry at Golden State. The Boomers great was among countless influences on Toohey’s road to the NBA.

“We know how hard Alex has worked over the last eight years to get to this point,” Mick Toohey said.

Toohey is one of the rising stars of Australian basketball.

“It’s taken personal discipline and commitment, plus a cadre of great coaches, assistant coaches, physios, team managers and teammates — from Marist College Canberra, ACT, NBA Academy, Centre of Excellence, and the Sydney Kings — to help him develop into an elite basketball “all-rounder” and an even better person.”

“He’s very grateful to the NBL Next Stars program and the Sydney Kings for their support and opportunity to develop his game in a professional environment.

“We are super proud and know he will keep on improving, and continue being a team-first, super-competitive, Australian baller.”

Hey @warriors fans, this is what you can expect from NBL Next Star Alex Toohey 👀 pic.twitter.com/4IbvDU4AGc

— NBL (@NBL) June 27, 2025

HOW TOOHEY FITS IN SAN FRAN

Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy said the Warriors had targeted Toohey “from the get-go”, because he fit the club’s culture, program and playing style.

Dunleavy believes Toohey is “very deserving” of a roster spot.

“We’ll put him in a development program, could be some time at Santa Cruz, could be some NBA minutes, we’ll see how it unfolds ... we’re pretty optimistic,” Dunleavy said.

“Alex has played against pros in Australia ... and, with our system and the way we play, he has the versatility to play multiple positions.

“It’s ‘who can you guard?’ and where you can play offensively and we think, especially on the defensive end, he’s super versatile.”

Toohey playing for the Boomers.

Toohey shows off the NBL Next Generation award.

Dunleavy said Toohey’s abilities will complement stars Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler on the defensive end and will give him every chance of a successful NBA career.

“They can kind of disrupt and this guy fits in that mould,” he said.

“He’s just a really coachable player, knows how to play on both ends.

“You see that in his block and steal numbers and then offensively you see it in the way he moves, he cuts, he’s really good in transition.

“He just does a lot of things (well) and we tend to feel like players that can do a lot of things in this league on both ends of the court end up being successful and making it.”

Dunleavy spoke glowingly of the NBL’s rise as a league and it’s ability to prepare players for the NBA.

“It’s a good league, you’ve seen guys like (former Illawarra Hawk and current Charlotte Hornet LaMelo) Ball, high picks go out of there,” he said.

“It’s a mature league. You get physical, adult play in that league, so you feel like if a young player can play in that league a lot of things are going to translate to the NBA.

“I feel like that league is getting more and more reputable and better and it’s a good place to pull players from.”

Originally published as Alex Toohey to Golden State Warriors: What Aussie star will bring to NBA