IN SPORTS: CHAMPS PARADE THROUGH OAKLAND
Warriors celebrate championship with parade in Oakland
OAKLAND — At the Warriors’ championship parade on Tuesday, Steve Kerr, who has won eight titles, was asked if he’s going to have to start putting rings on his pinkies.
“Toes,” said Kerr, who won five as a player, three as a coach. “I think I’m going to go with the toes instead.”
Kerr and his coaching staff, along with general manager Bob Myers and the players, sat on a stage before parading down the streets of Oakland in front of their adoring fans for a quick Q&A with Bob Fitzgerald, the team’s play-byplay announcer.
Everyone was in a loose and open mood following the Warriors’ third championship in four years, so much so that Myers and Kerr had a few laughs at Kevin Durant’s expense.
Myers joked that when he said Durant could have any contract he wants Monday, he was putting on a show.
“That was just for the media. He can’t have anything,” Myers said. Added Kerr: “Mid-level.” Durant, who was seated behind them, shook his head.
When Klay Thompson was asked what he will remember most from this championship run, he pointed to the tough times.
“Just the journey,” said Thompson, who held a cigar as he spoke. “I’ll remember the downs more, honestly, because they made the victory that much sweeter. The ankle, the knee, the thumb, whatever — it’s like a badge of honor because you win that championship, it’s all worth it.”
Stephen Curry agreed, reiterating
that the Warriors were in an incredibly tough position in the Western Conference Finals against Houston when they faced elimination in Games 6 and 7.
“When the lights are bright, we show up,” Curry said. “It all kind of came together at the right time down the stretch of the playoffs.”
Durant said the relationships he built with his teammates is what stands out most to him.
“I see these guys more than I see my family,” Durant said. “I feel like we’ve built a nice bond the last few of years — and it’s only gotten stronger and stronger. It shows on the basketball court. The flights, shootarounds, breakfast meetings and all of that stuff, that’s the best time of the year. And getting here caps it all off.”
When Draymond Green was asked about his defense, he credited his teammates, saying that he had a lot of personal breakdowns and it was a complete team effort. He also credited his teammates for stepping up leadership-wise when things got hard in Games 6 and 7 against Houston — shouting out one teammate in particular.
“Those games, you definitely heard everyone’s voice,” Green said. “It wasn’t just one guy. The one who stood out most was Klay. He doesn’t talk much at all. In those two games, he probably talked more than anyone. That’s just the type of competitor that he is. That’s why he was able to play on a high ankle sprain or whatever it was he was playing on during The Finals.”
Myers was a bit reflective, acknowledging that he was dubious when Warriors’ majority owner Joe Lacob said on television years ago that the Warriors were going to add to their lonely banner.
Said Myers: “I thought, no we’re not. But we’ve added three, which is hard to believe.”
Myers, who has a three-week-old baby, also revealed that his wife timed the birth of their child to when the Warriors were winning in the Conference Finals.
“Halftime of Game 3,” Myers said. “That’s actually when I got the text. We were up against Houston. My wife said, ‘You think you’re going to win?’ She said, ‘All right, let’s just have the baby now.’”
Kerr said it was a long season — but everything came together when it needed to. He praised the Warriors’ competitive fight, likening them to a racehorse that pushes during the home stretch.
“It was difficult because we’ve been doing it for a few years now and it just gets tougher as you go along,” Kerr said. “The journey was a long one and these guys were amazing. They turned it up during the playoffs, just the competitive fight they have is incredible. Last couple of months made it all worth it.”
As for next year, Curry, who carried the Larry O’Brien trophy onto the stage, said he wants to be in the same position again in 12 months.
“We’re going to try to get greedy and go get some more,” Curry said.
Added Thompson: “What Steph said.”