Jun 15, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; The Golden State Warriors celebrate during the Warriors 2017 championship victory parade in downtown Oakland. Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors celebrated their latest NBA title with a parade through downtown Oakland on Thursday that attracted an estimated 1.5 million fans.
The trek through town ended on the shores of Lake Merritt where front office personnel, coach Steve Kerr and each player addressed the crowd during an 80-minute rally.
“We need to enjoy this to the fullest,” star guard Stephen Curry told the crowd. “This whole day, this whole atmosphere, is unbelievable.”
Warriors forward Draymond Green had a wardrobe shot waiting for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that fell to Golden State in the NBA Finals.
Golden State won the series in five games and Green displayed a shirt that said “Quickie” with the Quicken Loans symbol. The Cavaliers play in Quicken Loans Arena.
“Quickie,” Green said while he addressed the crowd. “It definitely was a Quickie.”
Green interacted with the crowd on numerous occasions as the parade meandered through the streets of Oakland, where excited fans serenaded the players.
It was the second parade in three seasons for the Warriors, who wrapped up their latest crown by finishing off a five-game victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
“There is nobody having more fun than me,” Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said. “This is the best job in the world.”
The championship was the first of forward Kevin Durant’s career, and the NBA Finals MVP soaked in the moment.
Durant’s decision to depart the Oklahoma City Thunder and join the Warriors was criticized by many, and the title was a bit of redemption for the long-time superstar.
“It means the world for me to win the championship,” Durant told the crowd. “Hopefully we can keep it going. Thank you for the support.”
The Warriors drew criticism for becoming a “super team” with Durant’s addition. But going from Russell Westbrook’s running mate in Oklahoma City to world champion with Golden State capped off an interesting season for Durant.
“It has been a crazy year for me,” Durant said. “Going through this year was so much fun. You come into work each day and it is more like fun.”
Green addressed the super team chatter while addressing the crowd just days after Cleveland’s LeBron James — who played with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami — referenced that he had never played on a super team.
“Give everyone credit. We didn’t have a No. 1 (overall) draft pick,” Green said, his words clearly directed toward James. “They want to talk about super team this, super team that. ‘I’ve never played on a super team.’ You started the super team, bro.”
The comments came just moments after Kerr gave this assessment of Green.
“We have a whole team of humble Warriors and then we have one guy in Draymond who stirs the pot,” Kerr said.
Golden State went 40 years between titles after winning the crown in 1975. Three of the franchise’s five titles have occurred since the team moved to the Bay Area from Philadelphia.
The franchise is set to move across the bay to San Francisco in 2019.
Regardless the team is hoping to be celebrating another title next June.
“Same time, next year,” co-owner Peter Lacob said. “See you.”
