When West talks, everybody listens: refs, players, coaches
The loud voice boomed across the court. Those sitting at press row could hear the message, too.
“That’s a travel!!!” Warriors reserve forward David West yelled out from the end of the bench. Moments later, officials determined the same thing. So they called Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns for traveling. The same sequence played out a possession later.
“I don’t really do it on purpose,” West said later. “I’m being myself, being a fan, team player and commentator. It’s part of the game.”
And it is a part of the game that West’s teammates enjoy.
The Warriors (15-5) will present fans with West’s bobblehead before tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings (5-14) at Oracle Arena. The Warriors will fulfill this gesture as a way to express their appreciation to a 15-year veteran that helps the team with defense, mid-range shots and infinite amounts of wisdom.
The Warriors also like what West provides when he sits on the bench, such as when he yelled out missed calls during an exhibition game in China that referees soon corrected.
“That’s probably the funniest stuff when he’s talking to the officials,” Warriors reserve guard Shaun Livingston said. “They just take it with a grain of salt. But we’re on the bench dying.”
And as a result, the Warriors’ respect for West go
beyond him offering a dependable 6.5 points on 66.7 percent shooting and 3.1 rebounds in 11.6 minutes off the bench. Warriors coach Steve Kerr called West an “elder statesman.” Green referred to West as “our ultimate OG.” And Livingston described West as the team’s “supervisor.” The different nicknames point to the same job description that West has provided from the sideline.
“He’s one of those guys that doesn’t speak unless it’s necessary. He understands when it’s necessary,” Kerr said. “He’s not doing it to hear himself talk. He’s not one of those guys. He’s doing it to impart some knowledge and wisdom. So he picks his spots wisely.”
West has picked those spots in various ways.
During an eventual win in Philadelphia last week, Kerr called a timeout eight seconds after drawing up a play his players failed to run. After Kerr chewed out Warriors guard Stephen Curry, West pulled Curry and his other teammates to the side.
“Sometimes I use that moment to say something,” West said about speaking during timeouts. “But I always try to make sure whatever is going on in the game and whatever we talked about on the board, that’s consistent.”
West has preached other messages, too. He often points out defensive strategies to his frontcourt teammates.
He pulls aside younger teammates, such as Patrick McCaw, Jordan Bell and Kevon Looney, to talk X’s and O’s, preparation tips and handling fluctuating playing time. When Green becomes frustrated with foul trouble, West tries to calm him down too.
“He’s a guy that is going to keep your head cool,” Green said. “He’s a guy we’re always laughing with. He’s a lot of different things wrapped up in one person. It’s very interesting.”
And lastly, West frequently talks with officials for a simple reason: “There’s a lot of violations that happen in a game. I want to make sure the referees hear us.”
Livingston recalled West pleaded to one official before one recent game, “we need a good game out of you.” In other games, team accounts characterize West as tactfully pointed out missed fouls or travels. Because of West’s stature, the officials list and explain.
“It’s not necessarily jokes with D-West. He’s telling the truth, but it’s funny,” McCaw said. “If a play happens and someone is not supposed to be doing that, he’ll say it in his own way. Guys will just laugh.”
They will also smile, express gratitude and feel encouraged after West talks to them. It might be a role that West takes seriously. But it is something he said he does not approach deliberately.
“Every guy is different. I try to communicate with everybody,” West said. “I can’t use the same communication tactic with everybody. The biggest thing is the group has to know that you’re in it and you got their back.”