Warriors think Randolph might have some intangibles to go along with his skill

July 22, 4:11 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Anthony Randolph: Gym Rat

Anthony Randolph got off to an awful start in Tuesday’s summer-league game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Randolph started the game by taking a horrendous 20-foot contested fadeaway jumper that didn’t hit the rim and followed that up by fouling Reyshawn Terry after he’d been beaten badly on a drive.

It wasn’t long after, however, that Randolph put the ball down at the top of the key and went by Terry, getting fouled and making two free throws in the process. Randolph’s ability to drive by bigger opponents has been the signature part of his game thus far, and the one that has many Warrior fans excited.

But the Warriors’ coaching staff is more impressed with two other parts of his game: His nastiness and work ethic.

There were questions about Randolph’s attitude coming out of LSU but so far this summer it’s been all good. Randolph does call for the ball a lot and isn’t always happy when he doesn’t get it.

He does want to be the playmaker most of the time but it’s more eagerness and enthusiasm than head-case.

What might be more accurate is that Randolph is just surly on the court, refuses to give up an easy basket and isn’t afraid to go to the rim and absorb contact, his rail-thin frame be damned.

It seems pretty clear that the kid is more than willing to take on a challenge. Randolph seems to get personally offended when the opposition tries to guard him with a big on the perimeter.

Randolph’s work ethic is drawing praise, too.

At about 9 p.m. on Monday night, I was talking to some of the Warriors’ staff about Randolph. I asked them what a guy like Randolph might be doing in Salt Lake City after dark.

“He’s probably in the gym,” one of them said.

Apparently, Randolph is one of these players who is always looking for a game and never wants to call it a day when it comes to basketball. On the day he was introduced to the Bay Area media, Randolph said he was planning on “living in the gym.”

It seemed like nothing more than a good thing for him to say at the time. But it may be the truth. According to assistant coach Keith Smart, one of the adjustments Randolph is going to have to make is to play and practice less and take care of his body more _ getting more sleep, eating better and resting between games.

That’s a nice adjustment to be asking for.