Steve Kerr was busy during the lead-up to the 2022 NBA Draft, guiding the reinvigorated Golden State Warriors to a fourth championship in eight years after they missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons. But he was able to get his eyes on one group workout at Warriors headquarters regardless, a random happenstance that made all the difference on draft night as Golden State traded up in the second round to nab Ryan Rollins.

“I’m more of an observer during the draft. And when we go to The Finals, there’s no time to take part in any of it,” Kerr told Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. “But I happened to see Ryan Rollins’ workout. I was on the elliptical after practice one day, getting my workout in, and there were six guys on the floor. And he just jumped off the page.”

A 6'4 combo guard from Toledo, Rollins averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game as a sophomore, earning First-Team All-MAC honors. He combines a high-level, herky-jerky drive game with with impressive overall touch, shooting 80.2% from the free throw line, 46.1% on 2-point jumpers and 60.7% at the rim. Rollins is more coordinated and dexterous than all-out explosive, a relative athletic deficiency he compensates for with a 6'10 wingspan and projectable frame.

If he improves on 31.7% career 3-point shooting in the NBA, expected given a steady diet of tough attempts at Toledo, Rollins has the makings of another second-round steal for the Warriors—a possible development Kerr seemed to see coming while watching him for the first time.

“I turned to [assistant GM Mike Dunleavy] and said, ‘Who’s that guy?'” Kerr recalled. “And Mike said they really like him. He then kind of told me Ryan’s story.”

Rollins, who turns 20 on July 3, obviously won't play a major role for the defending champs next season. A late bloomer, there's a chance he gets more burn with the Dubs' G League team in Santa Cruz than he does with Golden State. But when Rollins is ready to step into regular minutes with the Warriors down the line, don't be surprised if he makes good on the confidence Kerr had in him from very beginning.