Large Crowd Celebrates Warriors' Championship in Oakland

Standing before a sea of screaming fans outside the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, the Golden State Warriors emphasized the selflessness of a team that won its first NBA championship in 40 years. The noon rally and preceding victory parade drew roughly 1 million people, according to the Oakland police. The official parade and celebration started around 10 a.m. at Broadway and 11th Street before turning on West Grand Avenue and snaking back along Harrison Street and Lakeside Drive.

Warriors center Andrew Bogut said it was “an unbelievable experience” to be part of a group of players that sacrificed personal gain so the team could win.

“The selflessness of guys giving up minutes, guys giving up touches,” Bogut said. “Everyone on this roster had a turning point in this season they had to battle through, and I couldn’t be happier.” None were perhaps more selfless than Andre Iguodala and David Lee, both starting players who served as finishers during the season, television analyst Jim Barnett said.

“When your new head coach comes to you and says, ‘We’d like you to sacrifice,’ it takes a great deal of mental and psychological maturity to understand and see the big picture,” Barnett said. For his part, Iguodala thanked the fans for their support during the season.

“Being in this environment, seeing the way you all cheer for your home team, that’s really what brought me here,” Iguodala said. “I appreciate all y’all. We finally did it. Enjoy it.”

Several Warriors players told the large crowd that they were impressed by their fans during their championship run and during the celebration today. Forward Harrison Barnes said, “I know we always say you’re the best fans in the NBA. How you all came out today in droves, screaming, yelling, on trees, hanging out of buildings, it’s unreal.”

Bogut said that during the parade, “I saw all kinds of crazy stuff. I saw a guy hanging off of a traffic pole, I saw a guy hanging out of a tree.” Several players recalled the days before the Warriors became a championship-caliber team. Star guard Klay Thompson pointed to a high-rise building next to Lake Merritt and said, “I used to live in that building over there, so to see the lake like this (with so many people), it’s crazy, it’s beautiful.”

He promised to try to bring more championships, saying, “It’s just the beginning, Warriors fans.” Stephen Curry, the league’s most valuable player during the regular season, pointed at another building and said, “Six years ago when I was drafted, I lived right here on Lake Merritt. I could walk around and not be recognized. Now, we’re world champs.”

Referring to his daughter, who became well known after sharing the podium with him during some of his interviews with the national media, Curry said, “Now I’m known as Riley’s dad.” Curry also promised to try to bring another championship to Oakland, saying, “The cool thing about it is we’ll suit up again in three more months and try to do it again.”

Related:

• Children’s Fairyland Honors Riley Curry
• Police: Three Shot Near Lake Merritt, Warriors Rally
• Golden State Warriors Win First NBA Title in 40 Years
• Steph Curry Named NBA MVP
• Hundreds of East Bay Residents Wait in Line for Shot at Meeting Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry

Thousands of people had lined up along the parade route while thousands more waited outside the convention center. Oakland officials had to close the rally area this morning due to the massive crowd, according to city officials. In addition to the Warriors players, the rally featured remarks from Head Coach Steve Kerr, the owners, the general manager, and the president of the team, along with local public officials.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said she “could never be more excited” than to welcome Warriors fans to Oakland to celebrate the team’s championship win. She presented the owners of the team, Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, with a key to the city, forged at The Crucible, an Oakland-based industrial arts school.

“This championship team will be remembered by fans throughout the Bay Area and the entire world for the way they played with heart on the court and for their character off the court,” she said. “For half a century, our city has had a love affair with this team. You have always had a key to our hearts.”

By Bay City News

Photo 1courtesy Leenuh_hlfernan via Instagram

Photo 2 courtesy aybarber2003 via Instagram