The Warriors started the season with a new banner and some really big rings
The Golden State Warriors kicked off the 2017-18 NBA season on Tuesday night by celebrating their all-consuming stomp to the ’16-’17 title, receiving their extremely diamond-encrusted championship rings and hoisting another banner to the rafters of Oracle Arena before taking on the Houston Rockets.
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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver kicked off the proceedings — which featured representatives from all past Warriors championship teams, including center Festus Ezeli of the 2014-15 squad — by congratulating Warriors owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber.
“From a collection of the very best players in the world, your Warriors emerged victorious,” Silver said. “They represent the very best values in all of sports, in all of life — inclusion, diversity, leadership, character. Those values are what stand behind this league. Tonight, we celebrate this championship team as they set goals and they go out once again to show this league that they’re the very best.”
Silver then gave out rings to members of the Warriors’ front office and coaching staff, with the Oracle crowd roaring special appreciation for general manager and Executive of the Year Bob Myers, assistant coach Ron Adams, assistant coach (and last year’s interim head coach) Mike Brown, and head coach Steve Kerr. From there, it was on to the players, with Silver lavishing sizable dap upon each and every member of the world-champion Dubs … including NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant, receiving the first ring of his career:
Kevin Durant gets his first championship ring#DubNation pic.twitter.com/BFZ1o92d3H
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 18, 2017
… and noted redemption story JaVale McGee, who seemed to enjoy becoming a champion:
First thing JaVale did with his ring: Walk over to Nick Young and wave it in his face.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 18, 2017
NBA CHAMPION JAVALE MCGEE
Someone gotta bury me with this pic when I die pic.twitter.com/cLhRFkraED
— Swaggy P-rez (@World_Wide_Wob) October 18, 2017
NBA. CHAMPION. JAVALE. MCGEE. #DubNation pic.twitter.com/n14i9pSkNQ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 18, 2017
And who can blame him? After all, the rings … well, gang, the rings are nice:
We got a really big team pic.twitter.com/r94LVWhapf
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 18, 2017
Warriors say championship ring, at 11 carats, has more diamonds than any other championship ring in sports pic.twitter.com/ZPeApQcHQJ
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 18, 2017
What a time! pic.twitter.com/VGj0jLsMF3
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 18, 2017
Bob Myers just showed me the championship ring. #dubnation pic.twitter.com/eKUldrOr9e
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) October 18, 2017
A closer look at KD's ring. pic.twitter.com/2bcxroJMMP
— ESPN (@espn) October 18, 2017
Some serious bling for the champs #DubNation pic.twitter.com/fqjquba5KF
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 18, 2017
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JaVale was not the only Warrior enjoying the festivities:
How's it feel, Steph?! pic.twitter.com/yk0lMb4QEF
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 18, 2017
Oh we talkin' teams? pic.twitter.com/Lhne29S6OX
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 18, 2017
But once the jewelry was all handed out, it was time for the Warriors to put a period at the end of last year’s remarkable run, and begin writing a new chapter in pursuit of a third championship in four years.
“This is truly an amazing night to celebrate an amazing accomplishment by everybody on this floor, everybody in this organization,” said Warriors star Stephen Curry as he introduced the unveiling of the ’16-’17 banner. “Especially you fans — this is what we do it for, what we play for, for you guys. Thank you for your support all year long. We know it’s going to continue this year.”
The @warriors hang championship banner No.5! #KiaTipOff17 pic.twitter.com/OS0s7cb3GZ
— NBA (@NBA) October 18, 2017
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!