Golden State Of Mind: All Posts by Sam Sorkin"UNSTOPPABLE BABY!" - Warriors rookie Marc Jackson to the Mavs' bench, after a lay-up during a 29-point loss (2000)https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50563/gsom-fav.png2017-02-16T12:00:02-08:00https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/authors/sam-sorkin/rss2017-02-16T12:00:02-08:002017-02-16T12:00:02-08:00Warriors own NBA’s 3rd-most valuable brand at $2.6B
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<figcaption>With stars galore, team success, and recent outstanding off-the-court progress, the Warriors’ brand is now worth $2.6 billion. | Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Forbes released their annual sports franchise value rankings this week, and the Warriors have risen to the top three of the NBA, behind only the Lakers and Knicks.</p> <p id="ENxoSF">The Golden State Warriors have the third-most valuable brand in the NBA, according to <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2017/02/15/forbes-releases-19th-annual-nba-team-valuations/#527a83d8528b">Forbes’ 2017 NBA team valuations</a>. At $2.6 billion, the franchise has <a href="http://www.forbes.com/teams/golden-state-warriors/">increased</a> in value by <em>thirty-seven percent</em> from just last season, a league-best increase. This season marks the first time the franchise has ranked in the top three; only the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, at $3.3 billion and $3 billion, respectively, have more valuable brands.</p>
<p id="uNvZp0">Golden State has engineered a meteoric rise in its play over the past four seasons, with a second-round appearance in 2014, the franchise’s first title in 40 years in 2015, another Finals appearance last year, and of course this season the team’s four All-Stars have led the way to the best record in the league by a mile. Stephen Curry is the back-to-back NBA MVP, arguably the face of the NBA, setting records and changing the game with his wizardry. Klay Thompson, his fellow Splash Brother, is one of the best two-way players in the game and arguably the NBA’s best three-point shooter not named “Stephen Curry.” Draymond Green is a walking triple-double, a defensive monster, and one of the most indispensable forces in the NBA. And of course, the new addition, Kevin Durant is a former league MVP, scoring champion, and one of the best offensive players in NBA history. Such high-quality team play and players results in more eyeballs on television and in-arena; the Warriors had the league’s <a href="http://www.forbes.com/teams/golden-state-warriors/">highest average cable rating</a> last season. With more eyeballs comes higher ticket prices, even more sellouts and a bevy of <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/10/24/13374982/nba-united-airlines-founding-partner-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-chase-center-joe-lacob">new sponsors</a> – ultimately resulting in a sterling bottom line. </p>
<p id="794H9D">Additionally, Forbes mentioned the franchise’s planned <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2013/12/10/5197130/golden-state-warriors-arena-san-francisco-waterfront">Mission Bay arena</a> “fuel[ing] ... the increase” in value; <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/1/17/14290900/golden-state-warriors-chase-center-construction-begins-joe-lacob-peter-guber-steve-kerr-kevin-durant">construction recently began</a> on the $1 billion <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/28/10855916/breaking-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-stadium-to-be-named-chase-center-jpmorgan">Chase Center</a>, <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/15/10777776/warriors-mission-bay-arena-opening-set-back-to-2019">scheduled</a> to open in downtown San Francisco in 2019. </p>
<p id="GAV6t4">According to Forbes the Warriors had the third-largest profits in the NBA last season (despite paying $14.8 million in luxury tax bills). Record gate receipts – including a staggering $40 million during the Finals last season, before the NBA took its cut – were instrumental in that regard; the Warriors renewed 99.5% of their season-ticket holders for this season. </p>
<p id="X188yo">The Warriors are part of a trend in rising value across the whole of the league, a time of tremendous financial prosperity for the entire NBA.</p>
<p id="dM8Kk4">The NBA’s total revenue increased thirteen percent from last season – currently a record-high $5.9 billion. The mean value of a league franchise is $1.36 billion, up nine percent from 2016 and a figure that has soared “3.5-fold over the past five years.” Key agreements that boosted league and franchise revenues included the NBA’s landmark $24 billion media rights deal with ESPN/ABC and Turner that began at the start of this season, as well as the new collective bargaining agreement, which establishes seven years of labor peace between the league and NBPA. The NBA has also rapidly advanced international operations and initiated a significant number of substantial international opportunities.</p>
<p id="55ED4f">When Joe Lacob and Peter Guber purchased the franchise in 2010, they did so for a then-record-setting $450 million. Now, the value has skyrocketed to $2.6 billion; soon, it may very well hit $3 billion.</p>
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https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/2/16/14632678/golden-state-warriors-3rd-most-valuable-nba-brand-2-6-billion-forbes-2017-team-valuation-joe-lacobSam Sorkin2017-01-17T10:00:02-08:002017-01-17T10:00:02-08:00Chase Center construction to begin
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<figcaption>The Warriors will begin construction on Chase Center Tuesday. | https://app.box.com/v/chasecentermediakit</figcaption>
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<p>The franchise finally will put shovels into the ground in its long-planned arena move from Oakland to San Francisco.</p> <p id="gZeJrp">After years of planning, one trashed proposal, delays, gaining approval from the requisite regulatory agencies, and defeating a great many lawsuits, the Golden State Warriors are finally beginning construction on Chase Center.</p>
<p id="q7AGQa">The team will celebrate the long-awaited groundbreaking on their state-of-the-art 18,000-seat arena and 11-acre entertainment complex in Mission Bay during a ceremony today, live-streaming on <a href="http://ChaseCenter.com">ChaseCenter.com</a> and on <a href="http://csnbayarea.com">csnbayarea.com</a> at 11:00 a.m. Members of both the front office and team will be featured: Managing Partner Joe Lacob, Co-Owner Peter Guber, Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts, Head Coach Steve Kerr and Kevin Durant. They will be joined by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, a robust and integral champion of the arena. Chase Center is set to open in time for the <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/15/10777776/warriors-mission-bay-arena-opening-set-back-to-2019">2019-2020 NBA season</a>.</p>
<p id="1rtTUt">“Chase Center and the surrounding area will serve as a destination for the entire community and we will continue to work to make sure it is the best experience possible for everyone to enjoy NBA basketball, concerts, family shows, conventions and more,” Welts, the team president, said. “We have been looking forward to this day since we first had the vision of building a privately financed state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex in San Francisco and are excited for what this will bring to the city of San Francisco and the entire Bay Area community.” </p>
<p id="1zaEim">As Golden State of Mind has chronicled, it has been a painstaking process to get to this point. The franchise bought an option on the land in <a href="https://twitter.com/samsorkin23/status/458426287347216384">April 2014</a> (scrapping their <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2013/12/10/5116108/golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-arena-">original</a> proposal), officially <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/10/12/9509905/golden-state-warriors-officially-purchase-salesforce-mission-bay-arena-property">purchasing</a> the complete twelve acres of land from Salesforce in 2015; to direct the project, veteran stadium management executive <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/7/7/8910751/stephen-collins-coo-lead-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-stadium-efforts">Stephen Collins</a> was brought in from Madison Square Garden. The Warriors <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/10/6/9467959/breaking-ucsf-endorses-mission-bay-arena-sam-hawgood-golden-state-warriors-rick-welts-ed-lee">partnered with the University of California-San Francisco</a> and the Mayor’s Office to sign a memorandum of understanding between the parties regarding traffic and congestion. City agencies, including the <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/11/3/9666622/breaking-san-francisco-community-investment-infrastructure-board-approves-mission-bay-arena">Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure</a> and <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/12/9/9882696/san-francisco-board-of-supervisors-vote-clears-way-golden-state-warriors-mission-bay-arena-alliance">San Francisco Board of Supervisors</a>, had to sign off on all aspects of the momentous enterprise. As the process moved forward, the team signed a <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/28/10855916/breaking-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-stadium-to-be-named-chase-center-jpmorgan">naming rights deal</a> (thought to be among the largest ever) with J.P. Morgan Chase to name the arena Chase Center. Late last year, partnerships with <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/10/24/13374982/nba-united-airlines-founding-partner-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-chase-center-joe-lacob">United</a> and <a href="http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/warriors-accenture-audience-experience-20161201">Accenture</a> for those firms to become the official airline and technology innovation partner, respectively, of the franchise came to fruition as well.</p>
<p id="mFE83z">The <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/6/2/8700405/opposition-to-warriors-san-francisco-arena-builds">Mission Bay Alliance</a> was a thorn in the franchise’s side, bringing multiple lawsuits designed to halt and slow the arena from being built — resulting in a <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/15/10777776/warriors-mission-bay-arena-opening-set-back-to-2019">pushback</a> of a projected arena opening from the year 2018 to the current projection of 2019. The Warriors’ legal team defeated the M.B.A. in district court in the summer; in late November, the M.B.A.’s appeal <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/12/1/13801330/nba-2016-san-francisco-appeals-court-ruling-a-win-for-warriors-chase-center-joe-lacob-rick-welts">was unanimously denied</a> by three justices on the First Appellate Court of Appeals. The Mission Bay Alliance last week <a href="http://missionbayalliance.org/2017/01/09/mission-bay-alliance-files-petition-review-ca-supreme-court/">filed</a> a petition for the California Supreme Court to review the case. However, considering that the review rate of the state supreme court is just five percent, according to a <a href="http://www.plaintiffmagazine.com/images/issues/2012/12-december/reprints/Smith-and-McGinty_Obtaining-California-Supreme-Court-review_Plaintiff-magazine.pdf">report in Plaintiff Magazine</a> by attorneys Daniel Smith and Valerie McGinty, and all four judges that have thus far ruled on this issue have done so in favor of the Warriors, the odds are slim-to-none that their prayer will be answered by the court. The courtroom drama is likely over.</p>
<p id="zGxPjh">“This new venue will not only ensure our beloved Warriors remain in the Bay Area, but it will fill a void in San Francisco’s portfolio of arts and events facilities,” said Mayor Lee. “It will provide enormous economic benefits, including thousands of new jobs ... and the Warriors are doing it the right way — financing this arena entirely without public funding.”</p>
<p id="wrzGgg">Chase Center will be be the only completely privately-financed arena in the modern era of United States professional sports.</p>
<p id="zu4IHZ">“With the construction of this new venue,” Welts said, “we’re making sure the Warriors will be the Bay Area’s team for the next 50 years and beyond.”</p>
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https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/1/17/14290900/golden-state-warriors-chase-center-construction-begins-joe-lacob-peter-guber-steve-kerr-kevin-durantSam Sorkin2016-12-01T11:00:01-08:002016-12-01T11:00:01-08:00California appeals court ruling a win for Warriors’ arena efforts
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<figcaption>The Warriors expect to open Chase Center in Mission Bay in 2019. | Golden State Warriors c/o Manica Architecture</figcaption>
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<p>The Warriors’ new arena plans achieved a vital legal victory when the San Francisco Court of Appeals upheld the city’s Environmental Impact Report, readying the franchise to begin construction on Chase Center.</p> <p id="0C83VO">With the San Francisco Court of Appeals upholding the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a>' Environmental Impact Report on Tuesday, the franchise's goal of moving to San Francisco and opening <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/28/10855916/breaking-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-stadium-to-be-named-chase-center-jpmorgan">Chase Center</a> in 2019 became much more realistic. </p>
<p id="0gseLe">“We’re very pleased by the Appellate Court’s ruling,” Warriors Team President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts said in a <a href="http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/statement-warriors-president-coo-rick-welts-california-state-court-appeals-decision-upholding/">statement</a>. “We engaged in an extensive public planning process and we were approved by every board, agency and regulatory body we went before.”</p>
<p id="R41uI2">“Now our project has been upheld by the trial court and the court of appeals,” Welts continued. “This decision clears the path for us to build a new state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue and bring the Warriors back home to San Francisco.”</p>
<p id="LobgTU">As a result of this ruling, the Court of Appeals effectively slammed the door on the environmental impact report as a thorn in the Warriors’ side. This had been a major legal argument by the stadium’s opponents, the <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/6/2/8700405/opposition-to-warriors-san-francisco-arena-builds">Mission Bay Alliance</a>, which had sued (losing that case in <a href="https://news.chasecenter.com/warriors-statement-on-todays-san-francisco-superior-court-ruling-d7c28f14cfbe">July</a>) and then appealed — alleging that the report was not thorough enough in regulating traffic and pollution and should not have been approved by the City of San Francisco. </p>
<p id="SngGjd">“The Mission Bay Alliance, Jennifer Wade, and SaveMuni are deeply disappointed with today’s court ruling,” the Mission Bay Alliance said in a <a href="http://missionbayalliance.org/statement-by-the-mission-bay-alliance-in-response-to-the-california-court-of-appeal-first-appellate-district-ruling/">statement</a>. “Our legal team is reviewing the opinion and considering options. We believe that the proposed Warriors’ arena is incompatible with the Mission Bay South neighborhood and would result in blocked access to UCSF hospitals, dangerous air pollution, and traffic gridlock throughout the community.”</p>
<p id="9heC3m">The Warriors had won the case in district court over the summer, when Judge Garrett L. Wong of the San Francisco Superior Court dismissed the Mission Bay Alliance’s complaints in a 54-page order. </p>
<p id="swVf7C">In unanimously upholding Judge Wong’s ruling (3-0), the First Appellate Court of Appeals of California <a href="http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/A148865.PDF">concluded</a> that the City of San Francisco’s analysis and approval of the Warriors’ Environmental Impact Report was indeed thorough and sufficient. </p>
<p id="p9n3fz">Throughout its ruling, the appellate court consistently concluded that the plaintiffs’ arguments held “no basis” (p. 15 of the ruling), were based on statements “taken out of context” (p. 26), or did not reflect the actual facts of the matter:</p>
<p id="m6ZacZ">“We have carefully considered each of plaintiffs’ contentions raised on appeal. Although in some instances defendants’ analysis of potential environmental impacts might have been expanded, as is commonly the case, in general the record reflects a thorough and exhaustive study of all environmental impacts to be anticipated that were not considered in the 1998 [final subsequent environmental impact report], and identification of numerous mitigation measures to lessen adverse impacts to the extent feasible. We conclude there is no merit to plaintiffs’ objections to the sufficiency of the city‟s environmental analysis and its approval of the proposed project” (p. 4-5).</p>
<p id="kPyeIf">The defendants — led in court by David Kelly, the team’s General Counsel, city attorneys, as well as attorneys from Thomas Law Group, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and Remy Moose Manley — and the city were, as expected, thrilled by the result.</p>
<p id="EGSkfY">“We’re very pleased with the Court of Appeal’s thoughtful and comprehensive ruling,” City Attorney Dennis Herrera said in a <a href="http://www.sfcityattorney.org/2016/11/29/herrera-applauds-court-appeal-ruling-affirming-warriors-event-center-approvals/">statement</a>. “This event center is an important civic priority that has been thoroughly scrutinized and has won overwhelming support every step of the way.”</p>
<p id="SNfoCS">Now that the Environmental Impact Report has been upheld by the appellate court, barring any future legal holdups (team owner Joe Lacob has <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/10/24/13374982/nba-united-airlines-founding-partner-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-chase-center-joe-lacob">posited</a> that, though highly unlikely after losing twice in court, the Mission Bay Alliance could “ask for an appeal to the Supreme Court of the State of California”), the team projects to move forward quickly with construction. </p>
<p id="R3fpvR">Lacob said recently that the franchise planned to begin construction of the 488,000-square-foot arena (along with retail, restaurant, office and open space) in January.</p>
<p id="msmIqY">Welts said, “We’re looking forward to breaking ground soon.”</p>
<p id="NFUbGG">You can read the <a href="http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/A148865.PDF">full 61-page ruling here</a>.</p>
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https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/12/1/13801330/nba-2016-san-francisco-appeals-court-ruling-a-win-for-warriors-chase-center-joe-lacob-rick-weltsSam Sorkin2016-10-24T15:00:18-07:002016-10-24T15:00:18-07:00United named Warriors' official airline
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<img alt="The arena is set to open in 2019." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rsMw4BY7yR1E8KzKi2zA1wEt_bo=/24x0:276x168/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51475289/imgres.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The arena is set to open in 2019. | Manica Architecture</figcaption>
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<p>As a result of the partnership, United becomes the franchise's official airline. Plus, some other important Chase Center news.</p> <p><span>The <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Warriors</a> have announced United Airlines as a founding partner of </span><a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/28/10855916/breaking-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-stadium-to-be-named-chase-center-jpmorgan">Chase Center</a><span>, the franchise's billion-dollar San Francisco arena set to open for the </span><a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/15/10777776/warriors-mission-bay-arena-opening-set-back-to-2019">2019-2020 season</a><span>.</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span>"Adding United Airlines as a Founding Partner of Chase Center continues to show our commitment to building and operating a world-class sports and entertainment facility in San Francisco," </span><a href="https://news.chasecenter.com/united-airlines-scores-as-founding-partner-of-chase-center-official-airline-of-the-warriors-b73b2a5ff672#.4e9tpdtso">said</a><span> Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts. "Chase Center will be the best destination in the world and adding United Airlines as a Founding Partner is integral in getting this privately financed venue built."</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span>As a result of the partnership United becomes the official airline of the Warriors (hopefully fans will be able to get special flight discounts </span><a href="http://www.timbers.com/flyalaska">a la the Portland Timbers of MLS</a><span>). The team will engage in various sponsorship activations starting this season in Oracle Arena, including on the radio, social media, and in the arena. Once Chase Center opens, United will be the sponsor of the East Side Club space and will also provide in-arena advertisements. </span><span>MileagePlus members will also be able to redeem miles for premium seat and suite access, as well as VIP experiences and autographed Warriors merchandise. </span></p>
<p><span>United is obviously thrilled to attach its brand to the Warriors, who are the favorite to win the NBA title for the second time </span><span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">in three years</span></span><span>.</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span>"As the official airline of the Warriors, United solidifies its leadership and commitment to the San Francisco and Bay Area communities," said United Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Julia Haywood. </span><span>"San Francisco is a key market for United, and this relationship demonstrates further investment in our employees and our customers," she continued.</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span>(It remains to be seen whether this partnership will include prime real estate as the Warriors' future jersey sponsor as well. In February, the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia 76ers</a> announced an exclusive partnership with Stubhub to be its </span><a href="http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/sixers-stubhub-launch-revolutionary-new-ticketing-platform/">official ticketing partner</a>, and three months later Stubhub became the team's <a href="http://www.nba.com/sixers/philadelphia-76ers-and-stubhub-announce-first-jersey-sponsorship-major-american-professional-sports/">jersey sponsor</a> for the season after next, the first such sponsor in the NBA. The <a href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sacramento Kings</a> recently became the <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/sacramento-kings-become-the-second-nba-team-to-land-jersey-sponsor/">second team to acquire a jersey sponsor</a>, with Blue Diamond Almonds signing on for a reported $5M per year. In April, the NBA <a href="http://www.nba.com/2016/news/04/15/nba-board-of-governors-approves-jersey-ads-for-2017-18-season/?ls=iref:nbahpts">announced the three-year jersey sponsorship "pilot program,"</a> which will begin in 2017-18.)</p>
<p><span>In addition to the United partnership, the franchise has recently taken a number of sundry critical steps toward successful passage of the completely privately-financed arena and is hoping to start construction in January, team owner Joe Lacob </span><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/10/10/joe-lacob-updates-the-progress-of-the-warriors-proposed-san-francisco-arena/">said</a><span> earlier this month.</span></p>
<p>The franchise <a href="https://news.chasecenter.com/eric-bresler-named-executive-director-of-chase-center-4f26cc990eff">announced</a> the hiring of the executive director of Chase Center, Eric Bresler, who will direct the overall activation -- programming, content development, and venue operations -- of the entire arena and complex. Besler comes to the franchise from AEG Facilities, where he oversaw programming and business development for the company's wide portfolio of facilities as Vice President of Event Booking and Development.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/7/7/8910751/stephen-collins-coo-lead-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-stadium-efforts">Stephen Collins</a>, the Chief Operating Officer of Chase Center and Bresler's new boss, said of the new hire: "Eric brings more than 25 years of experience in venue management in the sports and entertainment industry."</p>
<p>Bresler has been involved in the opening and development of numerous professional sports arenas, including the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a>'s American Airlines Arena.</p>
<p>"I am thrilled to be working with the team to launch and activate Chase Center ... [which] will have a worldwide impact and be a premier destination for entertainment in the Bay Area," Bresler said.</p>
<p>The team also announced its <a href="https://news.chasecenter.com/gensler-named-interior-design-architect-for-chase-center-65d5cafb0340#.1sgtw6tbj">interior architect</a>, Gensler (a San Francisco-based firm), which will do all of the public interior design for the arena. The firm's sports division has extensive experience in stadium and arena interior design, its recent work including the Cleveland Browns' FirstEnergy Stadium and Toronto FC's <a href="http://bmofield.com/venue-info/stadium-history/">BMO Field</a>; the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), the MLS expansion team set to begin play in 2018, has hired Gensler Sports to do the interior design for their <a href="https://lafc.com/stadium/">stadium</a> as well.</p>
<p>"Gensler is a perfect fit for Chase Center, bringing both incredible local experience and extensive global expertise to our project," Collins said. "We want an arena that is a reflection of the Bay Area [and] a stand-out in the world of sports and entertainment. Gensler will help us achieve that mission."</p>
<p>"When complete, [Chase Center] will be a showpiece for the NBA, the Warriors, and the Bay Area," said Gensler Sports Principal-in-Charge, <a href="http://www.gensler.com/people/ron-turner">Ron Turner</a>.</p>
<p><span>Over the summer the Warriors emerged victorious in court against the </span><a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/6/2/8700405/opposition-to-warriors-san-francisco-arena-builds">Mission Bay Alliance</a><span> (a somewhat covert cohort of activists and UCSF benefactors looking to take any means necessary to stop the construction of the Warriors' arena), wherein the environmental impact report was upheld by Judge Garrett Wong of the San Francisco Superior Court. The Mission Bay Alliance expressed concerns over how game traffic caused by Chase Center would affect ambulances and the UCSF hospital system nearby; in a district court, Judge Wong rejected their complaint without comment.</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></p>
<p>Currently, the Mission Bay Alliance has asked the court of appeals for a review, which is likely to be heard "this month" with a decision rendered "soon after," Lacob said. Even if the franchise wins that ruling as well, the process could be held up by additional appeals.</p>
<p>"There is the possibility that the [Mission Bay Alliance], if they lose, could ask for an appeal to the Supreme Court of the state of California," Lacob said. "I'm not a lawyer ... [but] as I understand it that's very rare that the [Supreme Court of California] would hear a case like that, that at two levels of the courts [would have] been decided strongly."</p>
<p>The appeal looks like it will merely delay construction a few months (until "January," Lacob said) rather than actually having the effect of halting the project. The Warriors have been victorious in essentially every step thus far; the city of San Francisco, led by Mayor Ed Lee, vigorously supports the project; and the Mission Bay Alliance is reeling, with several recent losses -- the defeat in court, as well as the exiting of its <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2016/07/14/golden-state-warriors-mission-bay-alliance-boies.html">legal</a> team Boies Schiller & Flexner and main <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2016/07/14/golden-state-warriors-mission-bay-alliance-boies.html">spokesman</a> Sam Singer due to "strategic differences."</p>
<p>Lacob said the franchise is prepared to move full speed once they get the go-ahead from the judiciary, hopefully starting construction in January 2017.</p>
<p>"The architects [and] the design, all that work is done. The money is in place, has been for a long time. We're ready to go. The city unanimously approved. We just need the appellate court ... and then we're gonna go get this thing done."</p>
<p>"We're going to break ground very, very soon," Lacob said firmly, "and it's going to be one of the greatest arenas you've ever seen."</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/samsorkin23">Follow me on Twitter @samsorkin23</a></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/10/24/13374982/nba-united-airlines-founding-partner-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-chase-center-joe-lacobSam Sorkin2016-07-18T13:00:03-07:002016-07-18T13:00:03-07:00Stephen Curry has NBA's top-selling jersey
<figure>
<img alt="Stephen Curry had the NBA's best-selling jersey in the 2015-16 season." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6RLTzA6lHcirDMO8qDpa88llP4w=/0x0:3049x2033/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50144091/usa-today-9349561.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stephen Curry had the NBA's best-selling jersey in the 2015-16 season. | Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Curry finishes the 2015-16 season with the top-selling jersey on NBAStore.com, and three teammates -- including the new one -- joined him on the list.</p> <p><span>Stephen Curry</span> just completed a season in which he won MVP for a second straight year, smashed the single-season record for three-pointers, and led the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> to within two minutes of another championship.</p>
<p>His popularity at seemingly an all-time high (save for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/6/10/11902346/steph-curry-released-some-ugly-shoes-and-people-are-ruthlessly">burns on <i>those</i> shoes</a>), Curry's No. 30 jersey was the top-selling in the entire league for the duration of the playoffs, from April until the end of the postseason, <a href="http://allball.blogs.nba.com/2016/07/07/curry-cavaliers-top-nba-merchandise-list/">according to NBAStore.com</a>, the league's official website for merchandise.</p>
<p>In fact, he has had the best-selling jersey in every period tracked by NBAStore.com since the end of the 2014-15 regular season, when he earned his first Most Valuable Player award.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgRFQJCHcPw">Merchandising, merchandising, merchandising, where the real money is made.</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Further, according to ESPN's sports business reporter Darren Rovell, Curry's jersey was the top seller in <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15518210/stephen-curry-golden-state-warriors-finishes-nba-best-selling-jersey">every state</a> save Ohio and Oklahoma (<span>Kevin Durant</span>, welcome to the Bay!). Steph is en vogue, in Nebraska, Maine, Idaho; in New York and Massachusetts; and of course, here in California: The two-time MVP, the most popular player nationwide, helping to revolutionize the way the game is played, inspiring millions of youth to hoop, the best player on the league's best team.</p>
<p>And his time on the top of merchandising lists should only continue, what with continued exposure as the best player on the league's most entertaining, and, as of this summer, most-hated team; <a href="http://www.si.com/tech-media/2016/07/06/nba-television-ratings-kevin-durant-golden-state-warriors">national TV games through the roof</a>; and a place in the pantheon of Bay Area superstars.</p>
<p><span>LeBron James</span> finished second, with the now-retired <span>Kobe Bryant</span> third, and Game 7 hero (villain?) <span>Kyrie Irving</span> fourth. (The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a> and Warriors ended June at the <a href="http://allball.blogs.nba.com/2016/07/07/curry-cavaliers-top-nba-merchandise-list/">peak</a> in terms of most popular team merchandise; off the court as well as on, <a href="http://allball.blogs.nba.com/2016/07/07/curry-cavaliers-top-nba-merchandise-list/">Cleveland topped Golden State</a> to finish the season.)</p>
<p>Then comes the Warriors squadron: <span>Klay Thompson</span>, he of the shoe deal with Anta and two years after <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2014/10/31/7140505/warriors-klay-thompson-agree-on-4-year-70-million-maximum-extension">signing</a> an extension that looked like a solid deal then but now makes him <i>severely</i> underpaid, is fifth. <span>Draymond Green</span>, after a much-ballyhooed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals">NBA Finals</a>, is seventh. New Warrior Kevin Durant finished eighth, but make no mistake he will be as popular as ever.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/751179102778957825"> </a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/751179102778957825">https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/751179102778957825</a></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Warriors say they sold more than 1,000 KD jerseys in their first two hours on sale <a href="https://t.co/JA9fbTgLmu">pic.twitter.com/JA9fbTgLmu</a></p>
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/751179102778957825">July 7, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>And hey, <span>Andre Iguodala</span> was fourteenth on the list! Look at that. He really is on his way to <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/7/14/12132442/golden-state-warriors-andre-iguodala-changing-direction-of-league-behind-scenes">running</a> the league.</p>
<p><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://twitter.com/samsorkin23">Follow me on Twitter @samsorkin23</a></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/7/18/12215756/nba-merchandise-golden-state-warriors-stephen-curry-supreme-lebron-james-kevin-durant-salesSam Sorkin2016-06-28T16:15:20-07:002016-06-28T16:15:20-07:002015-16 Season Review: Harrison Barnes
<figure>
<img alt="Barnes is now a restricted free agent." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CkrS5r1Rpdc5XvnlgEF6GGA9Ok8=/0x0:2783x1855/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49980851/usa-today-9334258.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Barnes is now a restricted free agent. | Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The enigmatic small forward has been a lightning rod for criticism despite his solid statistics and good nature. That was only exacerbated by his no-show in the NBA Finals against Cleveland -- especially in Games 5, 6 and 7 when the team needed him most. </p> <p>Where to begin with <span>Harrison Barnes</span>?</p>
<p>The 6'8'' small forward with a litany of talent, a former number-one-ranked high school player, Barnes has shown flashes of greatness in his four years in the NBA. Loads of athleticism. A solid three-point shot, at nearly 38 percent for his career. Versatility on defense, with the quickness and agility to guard point guards and twos and the strength to guard fours for a few possessions at a time. By all accounts, his character eclipses his abilities on the court.</p>
<p>But ...</p>
<p>Many believe he's overrated and has been since his days at North Carolina, when he couldn't even lead the team to a Final Four despite being a top recruit. He's the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a>' fourth and often fifth option. <i>I could make those wide-open corner threes</i>, people claim<i>. </i>He's often indecisive with the basketball in his hands, hesitating: Should I drive? Should I take this jump shot? Maybe I should pull up for an awkward 21-footer (as he is wont to do)? He doesn't attack the basket, never averaging even 2.5 free throws per game for a season, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barneha02/shooting/2016/">nor creates efficiently for himself.</a> If he's so versatile, athletic and agile, how come he can't average five boards or one steal per game?</p>
<p>This was supposed to be the season Barnes took "the leap" into playing as one of the top offensive options. With a rise in activity, numbers, and even a possible All-Star berth, he could parlay his success (along with the team's success) into a huge payday in free agency, either returning to the Warriors or with another team.</p>
<p>The stage was set prior to the season's beginning with <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/9/21/9364761/nba-harrison-barnes-offer-agent-golden-state-warriors">Barnes rejecting the team's initial offer of $16 million per season, or 4-years, $64 million</a> over the life of the deal. He would bet on himself, that he deserved more than <span>Klay Thompson</span>, <span>Draymond Green</span>, perhaps even <span>Kawhi Leonard</span>'s annual salary. And with the cap rising to $94 million this offseason, it seemed a good bet. (Annual salary, while important to compare players, isn't as important as what percentage the salary takes up of the cap. Although Barnes' next contract seems exorbitant, it's going to take up a smaller percentage of the cap.)</p>
<p>As the Warriors sent chills down the rest of the NBA in winning a record 73 games this year, there's no doubt Barnes played a huge role in the team's regular season success. His athletic and shooting abilities helped the squad transition from playing with <span>Andrew Bogut</span> at center seamlessly to destroying opponents with the "Death Lineup." However, as Steve Kerr said earlier this offseason, the way the team racked up wins in bunches put a curtain over much of what the team actively needed to improve upon. His points per game took a modest rise, but aside from a few clutch shots there wasn't a consistent "wow" factor with Barnes this year. He didn't create a lot offensively -- for him or others, and many of his open shots came from the attention <span>Stephen Curry</span> and Thompson receive, not his individual prowess.</p>
<p>Most importantly for Warriors fans, and what he'll be remembered for if he does in fact leave, Barnes just could not make a shot in the final three games of The Finals. When the season was on the line, he couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat surrounded by the ocean. He clenched up.</p>
<p>Barnes shot 2-14 in the possible clinching Game 5, at home, missing all six of his shots in the fourth quarter. In Game 6, when the Warriors fell behind by 20 in the first quarter, he did not score a single point nor garner one assist. Infamously, he was <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/6/28/12047902/nba-free-agency-2016-golden-state-warriors-season-review-james-michael-mcadoo">benched for </a><span>James Michael McAdoo</span>, who had hardly played to that point in the playoffs. And in Game 7, with the Warriors desperately needing a spark offensively, with no Andrew Bogut, Barnes was so ineffective that Steve Kerr was forced to go to <span>Brandon Rush</span> with the season on the line. One solid performance and the Warriors may well have been champions again; instead, horrifyingly, Barnes disappeared completely.</p>
<p>Do three games a player make? No. But basically every team (save the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a>) looks at players -- especially free agents -- on a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately basis. Despite the Warriors winning seventy-three games, a title, and being one win shy of back-to-back titles with this core, Barnes suddenly seems expendable. That, of course, is due to the free agency of <span>Kevin Durant</span>, who the blackjack-playing, venture capitalist owner Joe Lacob would probably bet they can sign. (There's also other <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/6/28/12046612/nba-free-agency-2016-news-kevin-durant-golden-state-warriors-harrison-barnes">viable options at small forward</a>, as Nate and others have outlined.)</p>
<p>The pitch is simple: <i>Look at your talent. You want to win championships? </i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/6/20/11920184/warriors-lost-future-nba-finals-stephen-curry-will-be-back">We have</a><i> the coaching, the talent, the unanimous MVP to play alongside you. We were one win shy of a title, and our starting small forward couldn't hit a shot with the 'chip on the line. With you in place of Barnes, no doubt we'll win multiple titles.</i></p>
<p>Restricted free agency helps the Warriors, who can choose to match any offer -- but will the Warriors stomach paying Barnes a max salary, one he'll <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16593089/philadelphia-76ers-make-serious-push-harrison-barnes">almost definitely</a> get from a team desperate for improvement <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16593089/philadelphia-76ers-make-serious-push-harrison-barnes">like Philadelphia</a>? Would they stomach paying him a contract with a poison-pill deal? At this point in his career, the Warriors likely see him as a known quantity, while other squads see potential.</p>
<p>Hey, he did *<a href="http://olympics.si.com/olympics/2016/06/27/usa-basketball-roster-2016-olympics">make</a>* the Olympic Team!</p>
<p>Follow me on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/samsorkin23">@samsorkin23</a></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/6/28/12055104/NBA-free-agency-2016-harrison-barnes-golden-state-warriors-kevin-durantSam Sorkin2016-06-27T15:23:36-07:002016-06-27T15:23:36-07:002015-16 Season Review: Leandro Barbosa
<figure>
<img alt="Soon-to-be free agent Leandro Barbosa was a sparkplug off the bench for the Warriors." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aH-jV7nQdYTvGguhgX6-PyDkeIM=/0x90:2577x1808/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49969161/usa-today-9349452.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Soon-to-be free agent Leandro Barbosa was a sparkplug off the bench for the Warriors. | Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Brazilian Blur gained press this season as the 33-year-old veteran who somehow had kept his speed due to a horse medicine unavailable in the United States. In the playoffs, Barbosa stepped up his game and became one of the team's bench leaders.</p> <p>He of the insane <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/05/sports/basketball/golden-state-warriors-leandro-barbosa-horse-medicine.html?_r=0">horse medicine</a>, <span>Leandro Barbosa</span> in his second season as a Golden State Warrior was once again a bench sparkplug on offense. As a player who made his name putting up points off the pine for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> in the mid-2000s, he played that role well in the regular season and then turned on the jets during the bright lights of the postseason.</p>
<p>With Barbosa on the floor in the regular season, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> outscored teams by 1.9 points per 100 possessions. The 6'3'' veteran was often the third or fourth player off the bench, replacing <span>Stephen Curry</span> or spelling <span>Klay Thompson</span> for a few minutes. Much of the time he'd reach on defense, gambling for steals; on the other end, Barbosa would jet around screens tiring out players a decade younger for midrange jumpers or to attack the basket. Sometimes he would play as the team's lead ballhandler, often finding Curry or Thompson coming off screens. But he made his living taking the ball from the backcourt all the way to the bucket for layups.</p>
<p>This season Barbosa played the most games in a season (68) since his 2008-2009 campaign, when he played 70. Although in the postseason his minutes dropped by almost four per game, he became much more efficient; the Warriors played better with him on the floor, the team's overall Net Rating rising from plus-3.1 in the regular season to plus-7.3 in the playoffs. He shot 58 percent from the field for the entire postseason. In the Finals Barbosa had the team's highest plus-minus at a preposterous <i>plus-23</i>, in 79 total minutes.</p>
<p>The former Sixth Man of the Year had his moment of glory in <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/6/3/11853370/nba-finals-2016-warriors-vs-cavalier-ssteve-kerr-smash-whiteboard-game-1-win-anger">Game 1 of the Finals</a> this season, when he scored <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad3A8BxGMEA">11 points on a perfect five-for-five shooting</a> to help the Warriors to a 104-89 victory. Although the Warriors fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a> in seven games, Barbosa showed with his strong postseason that despite his age he can still play effectively, and has likely played his way into one more solid contract.</p>
<p>Barbosa is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and it is likely (although not certain) that Golden State will let him go, especially with their steal of <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/6/23/12022614/nba-draft-2016-golden-state-warriors-pick-patrick-mccaw-unlv">UNLV guard </a><span>Patrick McCaw</span> with the 38th pick and their <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/6/27/12042614/nba-free-agency-2016-rumors-golden-state-warriors-kevin-durant">chase of </a><span>Kevin Durant</span>. We'll see what happens with Durant, as that will probably be the defining factor as to whether the Warriors bring Barbosa back.</p>
<p>Stay tuned. The offseason is just getting started.</p>
<p>Follow me on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/samsorkin23">@samsorkin23</a></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/6/27/12046298/season-review-golden-state-warriors-2016-leandro-barbosa-kevin-durant-chaseSam Sorkin2016-05-30T01:09:30-07:002016-05-30T01:09:30-07:00Preview: GAME SEVEN
<figure>
<img alt="GAME. SEVEN." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eg4RBevjfpv3JtuJH5qBBRV48QM=/0x316:1700x1449/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49728801/usa-today-9314610.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>GAME. SEVEN. | Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Warriors have battled back from a 3-1 deficit to force a seventh game on the home floor. This one is for all the marbles. </p> <p> </p>
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<img alt="Thunder 3" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vKECqfYfwsbofv5cPQoCp7EsWDQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6544479/OKC-2.0.png">
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Thunder 3" /></span><cite style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Gotham Narrow SSm A', 'Gotham Narrow SSm B', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; opacity: 0.6;"></cite></figure></figure></center></td>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: bold;"><a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #34459c; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" data-ref-index="6" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a></b><br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">3-3 (2-1 HOME)</center></td>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: bold;">Oklahoma City Thunder</b><br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">3-3 (1-2 ROAD)<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa;" colspan="9" align="center"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: bold;">TNT | KNBR 680 AM</b></td>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: bold;">Blog Buddy:</b> <a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #34459c; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" data-ref-index="7" href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Welcome to Loud City</a>
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<th style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa;" colspan="9" align="center" bgcolor="#f7ca3d"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-weight: bold;">Projected Starters</b></th>
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa;" colspan="4" width="240"><span><span>Russell Westbrook</span></span></td>
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa;" colspan="4" align="right" width="240"><span><span>Klay Thompson</span></span></td>
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<span>Andre Roberson</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa;" colspan="4" width="240"><span><span>Kevin Durant</span></span></td>
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa;" colspan="4" align="right" width="240"><span><span>Draymond Green</span></span></td>
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<span>Serge Ibaka</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa;" colspan="4" align="right" width="240"><span><span>Andrew Bogut</span></span></td>
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa;" colspan="4" width="240"><span><span>Steven Adams</span></span></td>
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; padding: 3px; border: 1px inset #aaaaaa;" colspan="4" align="right" width="240">None<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
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<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbEgdmTy0iI">Game Seven</a>. The two best words in all of sports. Especially when they involve such a series, two of the best teams in the league going back and forth, body blow to body blow, with history and an <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals">NBA Finals</a> berth on the line.</p>
<p>"We know what they're going to run, and they know what they're going to run," Kevin Durant said about tonight's Game Seven, after the Warriors <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/5/28/11807032/nba-playoffs-2016-golden-state-warriors-vs-oklahoma-city-thunder-game-6-final-score-klay-thompson">came back from a double-digit deficit</a> to <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/5/29/11808168/golden-state-warriors-vs-okc-thunder-game-6-a-beautiful-twisted-affair-golden-state-stephen-curry">win Game Six</a> and thwart the Thunder from claiming the Western Conference for the first time since 2012.</p>
<p>Win. Or. Go. Home.</p>
<p>Game Sevens are all about execution, shot-making and poise. Such events do not normally feature up-and-down offensive showcases, but either a blowout or a slugfest.</p>
<p>If the Warriors can be buoyed by the home crowd and get out to an early lead, something that during Games 3 and 4 in Oklahoma City the Thunder was able to accomplish en route to dominant victories, that will bode well for the best regular season team of all time.</p>
<p>They have the Thunder on the ropes after winning Games 5 and 6, and as the defending champions playing at home with momentum, they need to knock them out decisively; an early spurt tonight may crush Billy Donovan's squad for good.</p>
<p>For Golden State, it's crucial that they practice what got them here: strong individual and team defense; ball movement, player movement. Oh, and remembering that they have the back-to-back MVP Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in their grooves helps, too. Thompson had a game for the ages in Game Six, carrying the Warriors to an improbable victory: 41 points, a <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/5/28/11807322/klay-thompsons-nba-playoffs-record-11-3ptrs">playoff-record 11 threes</a>, and the three-pointer that put Golden State ahead for good.</p>
<p>Curry also finally seemed to find himself and his confidence as well, showcasing the offensive repertoire and shot-making ability that had eluded him (or perhaps that he was too exhausted to fully utilize) in the prior games in Oklahoma City. Whether it was shooting triples coming off of pin-downs or dribbling off of screens, or attacking the basket to draw fouls and knock down the game-icing floater over Serge Ibaka, Curry excelled on the offensive end, especially in the second half. He needs to be the same attacking, decisive, confidant Curry we've seen in the past two games and throughout the historic MVP season for Golden State to have a great chance at winning this game.</p>
<p>How each team is poised to perform under the pressure of this Game Seven will go a long way into who eventually takes the Western Conference championship. Rebounding will be critical, as will composure with the ball and the individual defense on Oklahoma City's stars, by Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Curry, Draymond Green, and <span>Andre Iguodala</span>, the third hero of Game Six for his simply phenomenal defense on Durant and Russell Westbrook down the stretch of the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>Some key, relevant statistics to conclude:</p>
<p>Home Teams: 100-24 all time in Game Sevens.</p>
<p>Nine teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a seven-game series. The Warriors can be the tenth.</p>
<p>Teams that have lost a 3-1 series lead and are playing a Game Seven on the road are just 7-7 all-time.</p>
<p>Road teams that have lost a Game Six at home while up 3-2 -- regardless of whether Game Seven is at home or on the road -- are just 12-24 all time.</p>
<p>Number 1 seeds are 28-3 all time in Game Sevens.</p>
<h3>Prediction for Game 7</h3>
<p>Warriors 114, Thunder 106.</p>
<p>The Warriors will take a double-digit lead early on, but OKC will stay close through the middle quarters thanks to some brilliance by Durant and Westbrook. Down the stretch, as the better team both defensively and offensively, with defenders extremely well-suited to guarding Durant and Westbrook in high-leverage situations -- Andre Iguodala alert! -- along with some critical shots by the MVP Curry, Golden State pulls away late to vanquish the very valiant Thunder and advance to the NBA Finals.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/samsorkin23">Follow me on Twitter @samsorkin23</a></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/5/30/11810106/western-conference-finals-golden-state-warriors-oklahoma-city-thunder-preview-game-7-stephen-currySam Sorkin2016-04-09T22:40:01-07:002016-04-09T22:40:01-07:00Draymond Green leads Warriors to seventy-first win
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/feP3Ky_-WqNl7Pys3MrtqBT2w2s=/0x146:878x731/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49277319/image.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Image by Tony.psd.</figcaption>
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<p>As is nearly always the case, Memphis gave the Warriors a fight down to the wire in their house, leading by ten with six minutes left. And behind the all-around brilliance of Draymond Green, Golden State came through in the final seconds for the seventy-first win of the year.</p> <p>Has your heart stopped pounding yet?</p>
<p>Seventy-one wins.</p>
<p>Seventy. One. Uno mas to tie the record.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> earned this win behind <span>Draymond Green</span>, the heart and soul of this squad, the one who makes them go. His tip-in off of <span>Stephen Curry's</span> layup attempt with sixty seconds remaining in regulation gave the Dubs a one-point lead, and they held on at the end.</p>
<p>Barely.</p>
<p>It took three fantastic defensive plays.</p>
<p>Following his tap-in, Draymond battled <span>Zach Randolph</span> on the right block, not letting him get a clear shot at the basket. And, true to his Defensive-Player-of-the-Year-quality form, Green forced Randolph into an air ball.</p>
<p>Twenty-three points on ten-of-fourteen shooting, eleven boards, four dimes, and some of the biggest plays of the game for Draymond. A game-winning tip-in and one of the final clinching stops -- that's not only dirty work, it's All-NBA-level play too.</p>
<p><span>Lance Stephenson</span> got two chances to win the game with under ten seconds left, and the Warriors absolutely harassed him. Like, there was absolutely zero chance he was getting a clean look with the game on the line. <span>Klay Thompson</span> and Steph were all over him on his first layup attempt, and <span>Andre Iguodala</span> joined in on contesting Stephenson's bricked jumper with 0.8 left.</p>
<p>It didn't come easy, as the Warriors trailed by double-figures and by nine halfway through the fourth quarter, 93-84.</p>
<p>Motivated by pride or by the chase for 73 or simply by playing the Death Lineup down the stretch, they turned loose, with a three by Curry, a three by Iguodala, a tough drive to the hoop by Green, and a clutch three for the lead by <span>Harrison Barnes</span>.</p>
<p>Then came the final tense minute of action, in which the Warriors earned their seventy-first victory -- the thirty-third road win of the season, tying the 1995-96 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> for the most in a single season.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>The Warriors have all season played down to much worse competition, and tonight was no different. This was shaping up to be a game like many the team has played -- and lost -- all season long. Whether playing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Timberwolves</a>, or the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Bucks</a>, the Warriors have lost numerous games with or without key players simply by not executing and taking the other team seriously. These are NBA players on the other side, too, and from young players like <span>Andrew Wiggins</span> and D'angelo Russell and <span>Giannis Antetokounmpo</span> to veterans like <span>Kobe Bryant</span> and Zach Randolph, they don't like getting beat down; they give their best effort, especially when playing the best team in the NBA.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/">Grizzlies</a> gave an inspired effort tonight, and, if the Warriors hadn't suddenly turned on the jets in the final period, would have pulled out probably their best win of the season. Memphis has been hampered by injuries all season and was missing star point guard <span>Mike Conley</span>, who defends Stephen Curry extremely well, and one of the best big men in the game, Marc Gasol. But the Warriors were just too skilled down the stretch -- and, well, that Death Lineup.</p>
<p>Tomorrow night, it will be even harder to come out with a win. One of the most-hyped, most important regular season games in Warriors history. Warriors-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a>. Golden State hasn't won in San Antonio since before I was born, in 1997, and the Spurs are going to come out with all the energy they can muster to try and show the champs who's boss in their last matchup of the regular season. (Please, basketball gods, let us finally get a Western Conference Finals between these two -- it's what basketball fans deserve!) Plus, the Warriors are on the second game of a road-road back-to-back, and the Spurs are aiming for an unprecedented feat: an undefeated home regular season.</p>
<p>Sunday in San Antonio is going to be a battle, just like tonight. Let's hope it lives up to all the hype.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/samsorkin23">Follow me on Twitter @samsorkin23</a></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/4/9/11400676/recap-nba-draymond-green-golden-state-warriors-outlast-memphis-grizzlies-for-win-71-stephen-currySam Sorkin2016-01-28T14:00:03-08:002016-01-28T14:00:03-08:00Warriors' San Francisco arena named Chase Center
<figure>
<img alt="Chase Center will be the name of the Warriors' San Francisco arena." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jTK-oQPX9-5t9CFFYAmtpAGqW-A=/24x0:276x168/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48667359/imgres.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Chase Center will be the name of the Warriors' San Francisco arena. | <a href='steelblue.com'>Manica Architecture</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>JPMorgan Chase has acquired the naming rights to the Warriors' planned $1 billion San Francisco arena, set to open in 2019.</p> <p>Chase Center will be the official name of the Warriors' planned $1 billion arena, after the New York-based bank JPMorgan Chase acquired the naming rights in a 20-year deal. The <a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Warriors-arena-to-be-named-Chase-Center-bank-6788844.php?t=06465c67bdf294ee0d&cmpid=fb-premium" style="background-color: #ffffff;">San Francisco Chronicle's J.K. Dineen</a> reported the news earlier; the website <a href="http://domainnamewire.com/2016/01/25/new-golden-state-warriors-stadium-to-be-chase-center/" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Domain Name Wire</a> first had the scoop.</p>
<p>"To do this now was incredibly important to financing the project, an absolute cornerstone," Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts said.</p>
<p>JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon announced the news alongside fellow executives and <span>Stephen Curry</span> in a press conference Thursday. Over the past few days, JPMorgan Chase has acquired web domain names referencing the arena, including ChaseCenter.com and ChaseCenterGSW.com.</p>
<p>"The Bay Area is a beacon for technology, innovation, and education, and we expect that the Chase Center will become a beacon of great art, culture, sports and entertainment for this great community," Dimon said in a statement.</p>
<p>The naming rights deal represents "our commitment to the Bay Area and how important this market is to us," he remarked.</p>
<p>Despite three years separating this announcement and the planned opening of the arena -- the 2019-2020 season --<font face="Georgia, serif" color="#222222"><span> </span></font>the Warriors felt that this was absolutely imperative to get accomplished now.</p>
<p>"It sets the right tone for the other discussions," Welts told the Chronicle. "It won't be the last deal we announce, but it will be the biggest and most important deal we'll announce."</p>
<p>The franchise is <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/15/10777776/warriors-mission-bay-arena-opening-set-back-to-2019">currently being sued</a> by the Mission Bay Alliance (one of <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2015/12/17/10469778/mission-bay-alliance-sues-ucsf-over-warriors-stadium">two</a> lawsuits brought by the anti-arena group), but Welts brushes their challenge off as a futile attempt to stop the process, especially in light of the naming rights deal.</p>
<p>(For their part, the Mission Bay Alliance issued a response to the news. Sam Singer, the group's spokesman, said that "the arena is far from a done deal and that any announcement about the naming rights to an arena in Mission Bay is premature.")</p>
<p>The franchise's naming rights deal with JPMorgan Chase shows the "inevitability" of the project's completion, he said, according to the Chronicle. "We are just one shovel away from putting a shovel in the ground."</p>
<p>David Carter, the Executive Director of the Marshall Sports Business Initiative at USC, had similar thoughts about the probability of completion in the near future.</p>
<p>"Getting the deal done at this point was very important because they are privately financing the venue," he told me in an email. "In completing the deal now, a sense of inevitable success is felt, and this will allow the team to more easily secure marketing partners."</p>
<p>Though the financial terms of the deal were unannounced, many experts believe that JPMorgan Chase is paying a record amount to put its name on a basketball arena -- more than the <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://nypost.com/2012/08/08/barclays-center-makes-it-official/">$200 million</a> that Barclays paid to have its name on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a>' Barclays Center, the current peak.</p>
<p>JPMorgan Chase Chief Marketing Officer Kristin Lemkau said the Warriors are "one of the hottest brands in sports."</p>
<p>Unprecedented success has enhanced the franchise's value fourfold over the past four years following an ownership change. Behind Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, the defending NBA champions own the best record in basketball. In its most recent NBA team valuation rankings, Forbes Magazine values the Warriors franchise at $1.9 billion, sixth-highest in the league.</p>
<p>Chase is also the official sponsor of and owns the naming rights to MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks, Madison Square Garden (home to the NBA's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">New York Knicks</a> and NHL's New York Rangers), as well as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/us-open-golf">U.S. Open</a> tennis competition in New York City.</p>
<p>"Our strategy is to have big arena assets that can work for both sports and entertainment in key markets," Lemkau explained.</p>
<p>"In short," Carter wrote me, "the team's strategy and vision aligned with the long term goals of JPMorgan Chase."</p>
<p>Other than Warriors games, the franchise aims to host around 200 additional events per year, including conventions and concerts, at the 18,000-seat Chase Center.</p>
<p>The swooping in of the New York financial services company to acquire the naming rights surprised many in the Bay Area, given the franchise's close proximity to and relationship with technology companies like Salesforce, Facebook and Twitter. Also, large Bay Area-based companies have recently acquired the naming rights to numerous pro sports teams in the region. Levi Strauss paid $220 million over twenty years for the rights to the 49ers' stadium name; Redwood City-based Oracle, of course, is on the name of the Warriors' current home in Oakland.</p>
<p>Lemkau admitted JPMorgan Chase does not have the same name recognition in the Bay Area that those companies do, nor that of banks with San Francisco roots like Wells Fargo or Bank of America.</p>
<p>The company only recently began its expansion to the West Coast, in 2008. Now, Chase owns 250 total properties in the Bay Area. Furthermore, two years ago the company uprooted its technology division from New York to San Francisco, leasing space at 600 Harrison Street in the San Francisco Financial District. With the naming rights deal, JPMorgan looks to take advantage of increased sk<span>i</span>n<a href="http://genius.com/Lin-manuel-miranda-the-room-where-it-happens-lyrics"> </a>in the game and maximize their exposure to build business in the Bay Area.</p>
<p>"Believe me, we ran the numbers rigorously on what the investment and returns would be, and on all the models we ran through, it will pay off for us," Lemkau explained to the Chronicle.</p>
<p>Lemkau said the region is an increasingly crucial part of all its core businesses -- consumer, commercial and investment banking; credit cards; and wealth management.</p>
<p>Not only did JPMorgan Chase acquire the naming rights, it also set aside $25 million over the next three years to enhance Bay Area disadvantaged neighborhoods, including renovating and building sports and entertainment complexes. Welts, the Warriors president, believed that Chase's philanthropic commitment was integral to the deal.</p>
<p>He explained this component of the deal shows the two corporations are well-suited to partner in both business and the greater community: "We wanted a partner that not only was a great name brand, but a company that was going to be additive not only to the economics of the building but the experience people were going to have there."</p>
<p>"It's as if it's your house and somebody is moving into it for the next twenty years -- that is the way we approached it."</p>
<p>Lemkau succinctly explained JPMorgan Chase's reasoning behind accomplishing the deal. "If ever there were a city and a team we would aspire to [join with], it would be San Francisco and the Warriors."</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin: 12pt 0in; line-height: 18pt; color: #292929; font-size: 16px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" id="paragraph7" class="pgh-paragraph"><a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #34459c; font-weight: bold;" data-ref-index="16" href="http://twitter.com/samsorkin23">Follow Sam Sorkin on Twitter @samsorkin23</a></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin: 12pt 0in; line-height: 18pt; color: #292929; font-size: 16px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;" id="paragraph8" class="pgh-paragraph"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">For more on this story, check out <a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #34459c; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2013/12/10/5197130/golden-state-warriors-arena-san-francisco-waterfront" data-ref-index="17">our storystream about the Golden State Warriors' San Francisco arena project</a>.</i></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/1/28/10855916/breaking-golden-state-warriors-san-francisco-stadium-to-be-named-chase-center-jpmorganSam Sorkin