Warriors get ’22 title rings, unveil banner on ‘particular evening’

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors unveiled their 2021-22 NBA championship banner and rings Tuesday evening forward of the season-opening 123-109 win towards the Los Angeles Lakers.

“It takes resiliency to win a title, and resiliency is what defines this Warriors staff,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver mentioned through the ceremony.

Stephen Curry stood to the facet, emphatically cheering as he watched every of his teammates obtain his ring. As he walked towards middle courtroom to obtain his, MVP chants broke out all through Chase Heart.

“Maintain up,” Curry informed them. “We now have another work to do earlier than that.”

“It is a very particular evening,” he mentioned. “From Sport 6 in 2019 in Oracle to Sport 6 of 2022, it has been a really lengthy journey.”

Curry additionally took a second to want Brittney Griner — a WNBA participant for the Phoenix Mercury — a cheerful thirty second birthday. Griner has been detained in Russia since mid-February.

Following the presentation of the rings — a 16-carat, yellow diamond ring — a video performed on the Jumbotron of proprietor Joe Lacob stating that the Warriors wanted extra banners. The video was from 2010.

Drake’s “Large Rings” blared from the audio system because the Warriors’ seventh championship banner — and their fourth up to now eight years — was raised.

A number of days earlier than the sport, star guard Klay Thompson mentioned he would have hassle sleeping on Monday in anticipation of Tuesday’s festivities. In the meantime, energy ahead Jonathan Kuminga mentioned he forgot ring evening was taking place.

Former Warrior Juan Toscano-Anderson, who now performs for the Lakers, was the primary to obtain his ring. A local of Oakland, California, Toscano mentioned earlier within the day that he bought courtside seats for his mom to observe the sport.

Forward of the ceremony, Golden State middle James Wiseman informed ESPN that he was excited concerning the pregame ceremony, however he had some butterflies as a result of it was each his first ceremony and his first season opener since his rookie 12 months in 2020. In spite of everything, the staff nonetheless had a recreation to play.

“Earlier than we head out, we all know it’ll be enjoyable, we all know it’ll be emotional,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned earlier than the sport.