The Golden State Warriors drafted Andris Biedrins (AHN-dris BE-a-drinsh), an early entry candidate from Latvia, in this evening’s NBA Draft. The league’s annual draft took place in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, with the Warriors basketball operations staff - led by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin - operating from the team’s offices in downtown Oakland.

With the 11th overall pick in the draft, Golden State tabbed the 18-year-old Biedrins, who has played the last two seasons for Skonto Riga in the Latvian Basketball League. The 6-11, 240 pound forward competed in the 2004 Under-18 European Championship this past year and averaged 21.8 points, 14.4 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 3.8 steals. In the 2003-04 LBL seasons, he averaged 18.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.86 blocks in 28 games, while shooting 61.5% (203-330 FG) from the field. In 11 FIBA European League games he averaged 18.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.55 steals and 1.82 blocks.

“We are very excited about getting Andris Biedrins with the 11th pick,” Mullin said. “We look forward to getting him in here, to start working out and get ready for the summer league. He is the guy we targeted, but I was not quite sure if he was going to be available at #11. As the draft unfolded, it was pretty exciting. I am very happy.”

In the summer of 2003, Biedrins participated in the Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, a showcase that features over 400 of the top high school-aged club teams in the country. The Riga, Latvia, native averaged a triple-double in points, rebounds and blocks for the Washington D.C.-based D.C. Assault team and was named to the All-Tournament squad, joining fellow 2004 NBA draftees Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Robert Swift and Shaun Livingston.