SAN FRANCISCO – The scene was familiar and weird at the same time.
We’ve seen the Golden State Warriors celebrate an appearance in the NBA Finals many times around this time, five times in seven years at the Oracle Arena before that on Thursday night, to be exact. When you see the crowd of Ayesha Curry / Mary Babers-Green / Julie Thompson having a good time long after the final whistle sounded like after the fifth game win over Dallas, rejoicing in this renaissance that was led by Steph / Draymond himself The core / Klay who started this dynastic race eight years ago, you know there’s probably a trophy involved.
But we had never seen this group chasing him to the Chase Center, where this gentleman’s affair was only necessary because they had been involved in Game 4 in Dallas two days before, so according to our Tim Kawakami, they stumble upon another $ 10 million. in revenue due to added home play. By the way, the next home games of the Finals are worth more than $ 15 million each.
Talk about a rich experience for everyone involved, in more ways than one.
However, from the joy of Golden State to the elimination of Dallas and all the fascinating sights and sounds in between, there were many things that didn’t show up on your TV. The following is a look behind the scenes of the night the Warriors won the West.
Again.
Nintendo Klay
It may be generational (okay, it’s definitely generational), but Klay Thompson’s mention of his Nintendo habits during his post-game press conference aroused a level of curiosity that far surpassed anything else he had to say about the game itself. Once upon a time, around 1985, this 44-year-old man was taking pictures of his victory over Mike Tyson in Punch-Out in hopes of winning the award that turned out to be an urban legend.
So while it was pretty impressive that Thompson hit eight triples in Game 5, beating Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard and Ray Allen to become the all-time leader in playoff games with at least eight triples ( five), it was his break from the video game routine before the game that moved the needle even further (for me).
“I don’t want to reveal all my secrets,” Thompson said. “Before I even start the day, I get up and jump into my 65-degree pool to wake up. I’m lucky to even have a pool.
“I only play with (my dog) Rocco. I play, maybe some Nintendo. I try not to watch basketball or basketball media. That’s how I clear my mind, I just do other things that take up my time that are fun.”
I met Thompson later to get to the bottom of the video game part of his existence. To be more specific, he plays on a Nintendo 64 and quotes “Super Mario World” and “Super Smash Bros.” as your favorite games.
Speaking of nostalgia, Thompson and I talked about the fact that some of the stars against whom they have survived playing in this playoff were just puppies when it all started with a win over the Cavs in 2015.
First Round vs. Denver: Nikola Jokic was only 20 when the Warriors first won.
Second round against Memphis: Morant was already 15 years old.
Conference finals: Luka Dončić was 16 years old.
“It’s crazy,” Thompson said Athletic. “Now we’re like those guys I was talking about, like the Spurs team we played (in 2017), who were older but (good).”
Photo courtesy of Jim Poorten / NBA
Some explosions from a long time ago when they were retired began to cross his mind.
“B-Rush,” he began quoting former warrior Brandon Rush. “David West. (Andreu) Bogut. Mo Speights. It’s crazy. I miss these guys. When you win a championship with someone, you have that bond forever. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
At Thompson’s departure, the Warriors’ public relations man, Ray Ridder, accompanied him to the court to take pictures with the Western Conference Championship trophy when his apathy told him everything about the final game. here.
“Ray, we want the big trophy,” Thompson said before reluctantly forgetting the application.
Steph trophy hunting
Staying with the theme of trophies here, Curry wasn’t much for clothing subtleties.
His green sweat said it all about his mood these days: “Trophy Hunting,” the logo said on his chest.
As ESPN’s Nick DePaula pointed out on Twitter, the Warriors star had also opted to wear the same Curry 5 shoe he wore during the 2018 finals when Golden State swept Cleveland in the finals on the way to his last title. The suit was there for everyone to see after the match, as Curry sat among the reporters for about 15 minutes while Draymond Green did the track with the press and his teammate waited for his turn on the podium.
(Sam Amick / The Athletic)
And then, after winning the inaugural Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP award despite his low start in the closing game, Curry was faced with a question that could have made him much more uncomfortable. of what allowed. We’ve highlighted the awkward part for you.
Last year there was probably an individual satisfaction measure to return to that MVP level after the injury you had. How hard is it to stay in a championship mindset instead of going back to maintaining the franchise? Second, how does it feel to win a postseason MVP trophy?
The unspoken reality referred to, of course, is that Curry’s lack of a MVP trophy in the finals remains a point of attention when debating his legacy. After answering the first question, Curry took the second calmly.
“Yeah Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like BT aint for me either. only the excellence he demonstrated throughout his career, “said Curry, who averaged 23.8 points, 7.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds in the series, but missed 12 of 17 shots and only had 15 points in the final (although it was over-11). “Definitely special. I appreciate the way my teammates celebrated with me. (appearances in the finals), (the) ability to play in other finals, I mean, what more could you want? I’m excited for another chance to go get one. “
On the way out, I asked Curry where he planned to see Boston attempt to end the Eastern Finals against Miami in the game on Friday the 6th.
“The crib,” he said with a smile.
The loot goes to the winner, that is. By avoiding a trip back to Dallas for Game 6 on Saturday, the Warriors earned a six-day break at home between the end of the Western Conference Finals and the start of the Finals on Thursday.
Luka and the long view in Dallas
It’s easy to forget that Luka Dončić is 23 years old (as of February 28). The Mavericks star is so elite and his production so historic that I swear he’s been doing this in the NBA for a decade.
But with his fourth season reaching the end of the postseason far beyond what almost everyone predicted, it’s worth remembering that he (just) has just started. And the fact that he expresses great confidence in the Mavericks program, one in which he connected with coach Jason Kidd during his first season together, is a promising sign for all involved.
Especially considering the five-year, $ 207 million extension he signed last summer begins next season.
“I mean, great,” Dončić said when asked about his vision for the Mavericks’ ability to become NBA champions again. “Honestly, great. I think we’re a young team.… I think this year we’ve taken a big, huge step, maybe a couple of steps. I think we’re in a great way. but I think we’ve taken a big step forward and I think we’re on a great path. “
As for the most pressing questions of the Mavs’ low season, Jalen Brunson’s free agency is the biggest of all. But while team officials continued to express optimism in this regard, Brunson himself did not give much indication of how he sees it.
“When it’s time, it’s time,” he said of the free agency. “For me, I’m just … when it happens, it happens. I’m not worried about it right now. Honestly, right now, as I feel, I’m very happy to have been able to play with these guys, and the things we’ve done this year, that’s all I’m focusing on right now and I think. I’ll think about it later. “
From Dončić to Dirk and … Chet Holmgren?
If you threw a Mavs shirt at Dirk Nowitzki, I swear I could still give them 15 minutes or so. He looks almost the same as during that legendary career as a player, which lasted two decades and takes him to the Hall of Fame. The dynamic duo Dončić and Dirk, perhaps?
No way.
Instead, the 43-year-old retired man was present in street clothes as part of his role as a special adviser to the team that began last summer. And after spending some time talking to everyone, from Mavs owner Mark Cuban to Dončić and the many others around them, Nowitzki took a moment to meet a young player who might be on this stage. soon: Gonzaga’s star and possible No. 1 pick in the June 23 draft, Chet Holmgren.
Although Nowitzki told me he doesn’t watch an exorbitant amount of college basketball, he said he was very familiar with the Holmgren game.
“Super skilled,” said Nowitzki, whose Mavs are scheduled to pick the 26th. “But I didn’t realize it was so high.”
Check it out for yourself.
(Sam Amick / The Athletic)
Holmgren was alongside his newly selected agent, Bill Duffy of BDA Sports, who also represents Dončić. Then we talked briefly about his conversation with Nowitzki and the anticipation that is being generated as he nears the start of his own NBA career.
“It was crazy to know someone of such importance to the game,” Holmgren said of Nowitzki. “I think he’s one of those guys who started changing the NBA …