As the Golden State Warriors wrap up their final season in Oracle Arena, it’s important to remember the legacy established in those friendly confines. From the ‘75 title team led by Rick Barry to the early 90’s shootouts with “Run TMC”, the Warriors have had several seminal moments in Oakland.
There was also a TON of terrible basketball played there too, lest we forget.
Thankfully, the Splash Bros-era dynasty has washed away that bad taste from our mouths and are focused on wrapping up the final season in Oracle with a three-peat. During the final regular season game in the hallowed building, they donned a surprise fashion choice for the fans: throwbacks to the Baron Davis-era “We Believe” jerseys.
Steph Curry was the only member of the current dynasty who actually played in those jerseys before, drafted into them back when Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson were running the show.
Though short-lived, that 2007 playoff run led by Davis, “Cap’n Jack”, and Jason Richardson still reverberates throughout Dub Nation. That team became the first 8th seed to ever knock off a #1 seed in a seven game series when they overthrew the heavily favored Dallas Mavericks in six games.
LISTEN TO THAT CROWD! #ROARACLE
The Warriors were fueled by the undying love and unrelenting faith of a Bay Area fan base that had stuck by the team through thick and (mostly) thin. That series win was the first playoff visit for the Warriors in 13 years! The Dubs hadn’t won a best-of-seven series in 31 years, and it was their first series win since beating San Antonio in the ‘91 season.
When the Warriors won the Game 6 clincher at home, the crowd rattled the building with cathartic roars. The announcer that night was Steve Kerr, a guy who would later create some Oracle history of his own as the coach of a Warriors dynasty. Per Logan Murdock of the Mercury News:
“It was the greatest atmosphere I had ever experienced in a basketball game,” said Kerr, who was a color commentator for TNT that night. “That’s not hyperbole, this place was so loud.”
Even to this day, when the Warriors want the fans to get hyped, they’ll play a clip of Davis’ iconic dunk vs the Utah Jazz in the second round.
We here at GSoM have created a video for your viewing pleasure to reflect on how that “We Believe” team defined a franchise and a city in a way that will never be forgotten. As the Warriors trek through the final postseason in Oracle, let’s remember that Dub Nation is for the believers, not the doubters! Rep your team: this video is for everybody who ever walked from Coliseum Bart into Oracle wearing a We Believe shirt!
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