Mayor to award G League’s Warriors a ‘Key to the City’
SANTA CRUZ >> The beloved Santa Cruz Warriors, who routinely perform in front of capacity crowds in their home basketball games at Kaiser Permanente Arena, have also provided thrills off the court. The NBA G League team is closing in on a decade of making assists in the community.
That fact didn’t escape outgoing Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings. He’ll throw down a proverbial slam dunk in his last day in office Tuesday, when he gives the Warriors, and 11 others, a “Key to the City.” The presentations will be made virtually, due to COVID-19, at a city council meeting.
“It’s one of the few discretionary actions I have as mayor, in addition to giving proclamations,” Cummings said Friday. “Before passing on the torch to the next mayor, I wanted to recognize people and groups who have made great achievements and brought the community together.”
In addition to the Warriors, Cummings will recognize New York Jets rookie safety Ashtyn Davis, a Santa Cruz High alumnus, professional skateboarder Raven Tershy, retiring Santa Cruz County clerk Gail Pellerin, social activist Curtis Reliford, and seven professors from the Molecular Diagnostic Lab at UC Santa Cruz. Cummings is keeping the 12th recipient’s name a secret for now.
Recipients will be sent an engraved plaque with their name, date and key engraved on it.
“Hopefully it’ll be visible somewhere in the arena,” Cummings said of the Warriors’ award. “I can’t ack nowledge how much they’ve done to bring the community together.”
The franchise, formerly the Dakota Wizards, came to town ahead of the 201213 season.
“When we brought the team to Santa Cruz, we were hopeful but not sure if the community would support a basketball team,” said Kirk Lacob, the Golden State Warriors’ executive vice president of basketball operations. “But now, eight years later, it is certain that the Santa Cruz Warriors not only play some great basketball, but also have made a lasting impact on the community. Receiving the keys to the city is an honor we are proud of and is something that cements the fact that Santa Cruz is indeed a basketball community!”
The Warriors participate in dozens of programs and fundraisers in the community each year. Santa Cruz Warriors President Chris Murphy counts Math Warriors, Read to Achieve and Get Fit Clinics among his favorite programs. All three benefit local youth. “When kids see players taking time out of their day to spend time with them in class, that sends a message of the importance of education,” Murphy said. “We’ve probably impacted more people off the court than we have on it.”
Murphy said each player participates in 10-20 community events during the five-month G League season. Knowing that, the team seeks out high character athletes when assembling the team each year.
“We look for guys who embrace that opportunity,” Murphy said.
Murphy said not one program or contribution put the Warriors over the edge in receiving the honor. He playfully called it a “lifetime achievement award.” And he said it doesn’t just belong to the team. He made sure to thank season ticket holders, sponsors and fans.
“This is not a Santa Cruz Warriors award, it’s a Santa Cruz community award,” he said.